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1 April 2017 An Assessment of Host Associations, Geographic Distributions, and Genetic Diversity of Avian Chewing Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from Benin
Oona M. Takano, Preston S. Mitchell, Daniel R. Gustafsson, Alphonse Adite, Gary Voelker, Jessica E. Light
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Abstract

Host associations of highly host-specific chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) across multiple avian species remains fairly undocumented in the West African country of Benin. Two hundred and seventeen bird specimens collected from multiple localities across Benin and housed at the Texas A&M University Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections were examined for lice. Lice were identified and genetic data (mitochondrial COI and nuclear EF-1α genes) were obtained and phylogenetically analyzed. In total, we found 15 host associations, 7 of which were new to science. Genetically, most lice from Benin were unique and could represent new species. Based on host associations and unique genetic lineages, we estimate we discovered a minimum of 4 and possibly as many as 8 new chewing louse species. Given the lack of current data on chewing louse species distributions in Benin, this study adds to the knowledge of host associations, geographic distribution, and genetic variability of avian chewing louse species in West Africa.

© American Society of Parasitologists 2017
Oona M. Takano, Preston S. Mitchell, Daniel R. Gustafsson, Alphonse Adite, Gary Voelker, and Jessica E. Light "An Assessment of Host Associations, Geographic Distributions, and Genetic Diversity of Avian Chewing Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from Benin," Journal of Parasitology 103(2), 152-160, (1 April 2017). https://doi.org/10.1645/16-137
Received: 3 October 2016; Accepted: 1 December 2016; Published: 1 April 2017
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