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Fu YT, Xun Y, Peng YY, Zhang Y, Wu X. The complete mitochondrial genome of the rodent flea Nosopsyllus laeviceps: genome description, comparative analysis, and phylogenetic implications. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:253. [PMID: 38863074 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06329-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fleas are one of the most common and pervasive ectoparasites worldwide, comprising at least 2500 valid species. They are vectors of several disease-causing agents, such as Yersinia pestis. Despite their significance, however, the molecular genetics, biology, and phylogenetics of fleas remain poorly understood. METHODS We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the rodent flea Nosopsyllus laeviceps using next-generation sequencing technology. Then we combined the new mitogenome generated here with mt genomic data available for 23 other flea species to perform comparative mitogenomics, nucleotide diversity, and evolutionary rate analysis. Subsequently, the phylogenetic relationship within the order Siphonaptera was explored using the Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods based on concentrated data for 13 mt protein-coding genes. RESULTS The complete mt genome of the rodent flea N. laeviceps was 16,533 base pairs (bp) in a circular DNA molecule, containing 37 typical genes (13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA [tRNA] genes, and two ribosomal RNA [rRNA] genes) with one large non-coding region (NCR). Comparative analysis among the order Siphonaptera showed a stable gene order with no gene arrangement, and high AT content (76.71-83.21%) with an apparent negative AT and GC skew except in three fleas Aviostivalius klossi bispiniformis, Leptopsylla segnis, and Neopsylla specialis. Moreover, we found robust evidence that the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene was the most conserved protein-coding gene (Pi = 0.15, non-synonymous/synonymous [Ka/Ks] ratio = 0.13) of fleas. Phylogenomic analysis conducted using two methods revealed different topologies, but both results strongly indicated that (i) the families Ceratophyllidae and Leptopsyllidae were paraphyletic and were the closest to each other, and (ii) the family Ctenophthalmidae was paraphyletic. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we obtained a high-quality mt genome of the rodent flea N. laeviceps and performed comparative mitogenomics and phylogeny of the order Siphonaptera using the mt database. The results will enrich the mt genome data for fleas, lay a foundation for the phylogenetic analysis of fleas, and promote the evolutionary analysis of Siphonaptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Tian Fu
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Ying Xun
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Yan-Yan Peng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Xiangya School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
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Liu Y, Chen B, Lu X, Liu S, Jiang D, Wang X, Yi L, Li R, Zhang Q, Wu L, Yang X. Analysis of complete mitogenomes and phylogenetic relationships of Frontopsylla spadix and Neopsylla specialis. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1250381. [PMID: 37745207 PMCID: PMC10513422 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1250381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fleas represent a group of paramount medical significance, subsisting on blood and acting as vectors for an array of naturally occurring diseases. These pathogens constitute essential elements within the plague biome, exerting deleterious effects on both human and livestock health. In this study, we successfully assembled and sequenced the whole mitochondrial genome of Frontopsylla spadix and Neopsylla specialis using long-range PCR and next-generation sequencing technologies. The mitogenomes of F. spadix and N. specialis both have 37 genes with full lengths of 15,085 bp and 16,820 bp, respectively. The topology of the phylogenetic tree elucidates that species F. spadix is clustered in a branch alongside other members of the family Leptopsyllidae, whereas species N. specialis is a sister taxon to Dorcadia ioffi and Hystrichopsylla weida qinlingensis. It also suggests that Pulicidae form a monophyletic clade, Ctenopthalmidae, Hystrichopsyllidae, Vermipsyllidae form a sister group to Ceratophyllidae/Leptopsyllidae group. The mitochondrial genomes of F. spadix and N. specialis were sequenced for the first time, which will contribute to a more comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the Siphonaptera order. The foundation for subsequent systematic studies, and molecular biology of fleas was established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafang Liu
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xinyan Lu
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Dandan Jiang
- School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Queen Mary School, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lin Yi
- College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Rongyu Li
- College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Quanfu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Sichuan, China
| | - Lixian Wu
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
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Liu Y, Chen B, Lu X, Jiang D, Wang T, Geng L, Zhang Q, Yang X. Complete mitogenomes characterization and phylogenetic analyses of Ceratophyllus anisus and Leptopsylla segnis. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1218488. [PMID: 37396998 PMCID: PMC10312373 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1218488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Fleas are one of the most common ectoparasites in warm-blooded mammals and an important vector of zoonotic diseases with serious medical implications. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of Ceratophyllus anisus and Leptopsylla segnis for the first time using high-throughput sequencing and constructed phylogenetic relationships. We obtained double-stranded circular molecules of lengths 15,875 and 15,785 bp, respectively, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and two control regions. AT-skew was negative in both C. anisus (-0.022) and L. segnis (-0.231), while GC-skew was positive in both (0.024/0.248), which produced significant differences in codon usage and amino acid composition. Thirteen PCGs encoding 3,617 and 3,711 codons, respectively, isoleucine and phenylalanine were used most frequently. The tRNA genes all form a typical secondary structure. Construction of phylogenetic trees based on Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods for PCGs. The results of this study provide new information for the mitochondrial genome database of fleas and support further taxonomic studies and population genetics of fleas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafang Liu
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Xinyan Lu
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Dandan Jiang
- School of Public Health, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Ling Geng
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
| | - Quanfu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xing Yang
- Integrated Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, China
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Li LY, Deng YP, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Fu YT, Liu GH, Liu JH. Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Culex vishnui (Diptera: Culicidae), one of the major vectors of Japanese encephalitis virus. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1403-1414. [PMID: 37072585 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07840-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Culex mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) can transmit a variety of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), causing human and animal diseases. Cx. vishnui, Cx. pseudovishnui, and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus are three representative species in Culex vishnui subgroup, which are widely distributed in southeast Asia, and they have been proved as the main vectors transmitting Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) that could cause human infectious mosquito-borne disease across Asia. However, the epidemiology, biology, and even molecular information of those mosquitos remain poorly understood, and only the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus has been reported in these species. In the present study, we sequenced and annotated the complete mitogenome sequence of Cx. vishnui which was 15,587 bp in length, comprising 37 genes. Comparisons of nucleotide and amino acid sequences between Cx. vishnui and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus revealed that most genes within Culex vishnui subgroup were conserved, except atp8, nad1, atp6, and nad6, with differences of 0.4 (rrnS) - 15.1% (tRNAs) and 0 (nad4L) - 9.4% (atp8), respectively, interestingly suggesting the genes nad4L and rrnS were the most conserved but atp8 gene was the least. The results based on nucleotide diversity also supported a relatively uniform distribution of the intraspecific differences in Cx. vishnui and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus with only one highly pronounced peak of divergence centered at the control region. Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated amino acid sequences of 13 protein-coding genes supported the previous taxonomic classification of the family Culicidae and the monophyly of tribes Aedini, Culicini, Mansoniini, and Sabethini. The present study revealed detailed information on the subgroup Culex vishnui, reanalyzed the relationships within the family Culicidae, provided better markers to identify and distinguish Culex species, and offered more markers for studying the molecular epidemiology, population genetics, and molecular phylogenetics of Cx. vishnui.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le-Yan Li
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yuan-Ping Deng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China
| | - You Wu
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry Health Care, Hunan Agricultural University, Hunan Province, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Yi-Tian Fu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jin-Hui Liu
- Hunan Co-Innovation Center of Animal Production Safety, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan Province, China.
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Soares EFMS, Carlos DFLP, Epifanio NMDM, Coumendouros K, Cid YP, Chaves DSDA, Campos DR. Insecticidal activity of essential oil of Cannabis sativa against the immature and adult stages of Ctenocephalides felis felis. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2023; 32:e015122. [PMID: 36651425 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612023003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Essential oil (EO) of Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) was evaluated against the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages of the flea Ctenocephalides felis felis. The chemical composition of EO was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization and mass spectrometry. EO mainly comprised γ-elemene (16.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (14.2%) as major compounds. To evaluate the mortality of flea stages in vitro, filter paper tests were performed at different concentrations. EO of C. sativa showed insecticidal activity (100% mortality at the highest concentrations) for flea control at egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages, with lethal concentrations (LC50) of 32.45; 91.61; 466.41 and 927.92 μg/cm2, respectively. EO of C. sativa indicated the potential for the development of ectoparasiticide for veterinary use, especially for fleas in egg and larval stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Fellipe Melo Santos Soares
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédia, RJ, Brasil
| | | | - Neide Mara de Menezes Epifanio
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Katherina Coumendouros
- Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédia, RJ, Brasil
| | - Yara Peluso Cid
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Douglas Siqueira de Almeida Chaves
- Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
| | - Diefrey Ribeiro Campos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil
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Zhang Y, Fu YT, Yao C, Deng YP, Nie Y, Liu GH. Mitochondrial phylogenomics provides insights into the taxonomy and phylogeny of fleas. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:223. [PMID: 35733168 PMCID: PMC9215091 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05334-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) are obligatory hematophagous ectoparasites of humans and animals and serve as vectors of many disease-causing agents. Despite past and current research efforts on fleas due to their medical and veterinary importance, correct identification and robust phylogenetic analysis of these ectoparasites have often proved challenging. Methods We decoded the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the human flea Pulex irritans and nearly complete mt genome of the dog flea Ctenocephalides canis, and subsequently used this information to reconstruct the phylogeny of fleas among Endopterygota insects. Results The complete mt genome of P. irritans was 20,337 bp, whereas the clearly sequenced coding region of the C. canis mt genome was 15,609 bp. Both mt genomes were found to contain 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and two ribosomal RNA genes. The coding region of the C. canis mt genome was only 93.5% identical to that of the cat flea C. felis, unequivocally confirming that they are distinct species. Our phylogenomic analyses of the mt genomes showed a sister relationship between the order Siphonaptera and orders Diptera + Mecoptera + Megaloptera + Neuroptera and positively support the hypothesis that the fleas in the order Siphonaptera are monophyletic. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the mt genomes of P. irritans and C. canis are different. The phylogenetic tree shows that fleas are monophyletic and strongly support an order-level objective. These mt genomes provide novel molecular markers for studying the taxonomy and phylogeny of fleas in the future. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05334-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan province, China
| | - Yi-Tian Fu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan province, China
| | - Chaoqun Yao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and One Health Center for Zoonoses and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 334, Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
| | - Yuan-Ping Deng
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan province, China
| | - Yu Nie
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan province, China
| | - Guo-Hua Liu
- Research Center for Parasites & Vectors, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, Hunan province, China.
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