How to translate text using browser tools
5 January 2023 Population Genetic Structure of Phlebotomus sergenti (Diptera: Psychodidae) Collected in Four Regions of Morocco Based on the Analysis of Cyt b and EF-1α Genes
Sofia El Kacem, Mouad Ait Kbaich, Idris Mhaidi, Othmane Daoui, Houda Bennani, Vít Dvořák, Meryem Lemrani
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Phlebotomus(Ph.) sergentiis the main vector of Leishmania(L.) tropica(Trypanosomatida:Trypanosomatidae), the causative agent of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Morocco. This species has an extended geographical distribution, wider than that of the parasite. The main objective of our study was to analyze the genetic diversity of Ph. sergenti collected in four foci in Morocco: Taza, Foum Jemâa, El Hanchane, and Ouarzazate. We studied a set of diversity and population structure indices by sequencing two markers; nuclear EF-1α and mitochondrial Cyt b from 175 individual sand flies. Our results showed a considerable degree of intraspecific polymorphism with a high number of haplotypes identified in both genes. Many polymorphic sites detected in the Cyt b sequences (SCyt b = 45) indicate that it is the most polymorphic marker showing a distinct distribution of haplotypes according to their geographical origin, whereas the EF-1α marker showed no geographical isolation. Analysis byTajima's D and Fu's Fs tests revealed a possible recent expansion of the populations, especially with the EF-1α marker, showing significant values inTaza and Ouarzazate sequences. The present study revealed significant genetic diversity within Ph. sergenti populations in Morocco. The results warrant further research using a combination of more than two markers including mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial markers, which may provide more information to clarify the genetic status of Ph. sergenti.

Sofia El Kacem, Mouad Ait Kbaich, Idris Mhaidi, Othmane Daoui, Houda Bennani, Vít Dvořák, and Meryem Lemrani "Population Genetic Structure of Phlebotomus sergenti (Diptera: Psychodidae) Collected in Four Regions of Morocco Based on the Analysis of Cyt b and EF-1α Genes," Journal of Medical Entomology 60(2), 294-305, (5 January 2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac190
Received: 5 September 2022; Accepted: 9 December 2022; Published: 5 January 2023
JOURNAL ARTICLE
12 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
Cyt b
EF1-α
genetic diversity
Morocco
Phlebotomus
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top