Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis Indicates Potential Cryptic Speciation in the Chigger Mite <i>Neoschoengastia gallinarum</i> (Hatori, 1920) Parasitising Birds in Asia.



Rajasegaran, Praveena ORCID: 0000-0003-3024-5300, Koosakulnirand, Sirikamon ORCID: 0000-0003-2789-8060, Tan, Kim-Kee ORCID: 0000-0002-5816-9146, Khoo, Jing Jing ORCID: 0000-0003-1285-6052, Suliman, Youseuf, Mansor, Mohammad Saiful, Ahmad Khusaini, Mohd KS, AbuBakar, Sazaly ORCID: 0000-0002-9267-1420, Chaisiri, Kittipong ORCID: 0000-0001-6795-3541, Morand, Serge ORCID: 0000-0003-3986-7659
et al (show 2 more authors) (2024) Multi-Locus Sequence Analysis Indicates Potential Cryptic Speciation in the Chigger Mite <i>Neoschoengastia gallinarum</i> (Hatori, 1920) Parasitising Birds in Asia. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 14 (6). 980-.

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Abstract

<i>Neoschoengastia gallinarum</i> is widely distributed in Asia, preferentially parasitising birds, and heavy infestations have clinical impacts on domestic fowl. In common with other trombiculid mites, the genetic diversity and potential variation in host preferences or pathology induced by <i>N. gallinarum</i> are poorly understood. This study aimed to unravel the geographical variation and population structure of <i>N. gallinarum</i> collected from galliform birds in Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand by inference from concatenated mitochondrial-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and 18S ribosomal DNA gene sequences, including a comparison with previously published data from southeastern China. Our multi-locus sequence analysis revealed three monophyletic clades comprising (A) specimens from Peninsular Malaysia, (B) the samples from Thailand together with a minority of Chinese sequences, and (C) the majority of sequences from China. Similarly, most species delimitation approaches divided the specimens into three operational taxonomic units. Analysis of molecular variance revealed 96.41% genetic divergence between Malaysian and Thai populations, further supported by the absence of gene flow (N<i>m</i> = 0.01). In conclusion, despite the two countries sharing a land border, populations of <i>N. gallinarum</i> from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand appear to be genetically segregated and may represent distinct cryptic species.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Galliformes, chickens, molecular barcoding, trombiculiasis, trombiculid
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 27 Mar 2024 15:16
Last Modified: 12 Apr 2024 19:18
DOI: 10.3390/ani14060980
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3179987