Genetic Characterization of Argas persicus From Iran by Sequencing of Mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COX1) and 16s rRNA Genes

Background: Argas persicus has a great importance for health and veterinary, it can transmit many infectious agents such as Borrelia anserina (avian spirochetosis) and Aegyptianella pullorum. Distinguishing Argasidae due to close morphological relationship is difficult. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we performed molecular analyses based on PCR and sequencing of Amplicon derived from 16S rRNA and COX1 genes of A. persicus specimens in several provinces of Iran.     Methods: Out of seventy Argas persicus collected and confirmed morphologically, eight ticks were chosen from five provinces of Iran for gene analysis. Their DNA were extracted and amplificated using primers derived from 16 S ribosomal RNA and COX1 genes using PCR. Then the amplicons were sequenced and analyzed by Chromas software and sequence alignment program (Clustal W). Phylogenetic analysis was also conducted using MEGA ver. 6.06 with a maximum-likelihood method. RESULTS: Sequencing results indicated that all eight samples belonged to A. persicus species. Their nucleotide sequencing revealed that the interspecific sequence differences of both genes (16S rRNA genes and COX1) between our isolates were very infrequent. All isolates from different provinces were conserved across regions except for one isolate that exhibited a difference of only 1 nucleotide. Within Phylogenetic tree, A. persicus formed a clade with A. persicus from other regions of the world (South Arica, Italy, China, and South Australia). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested a very close phylogenetic relationship between A. persicus specimens obtained from different regions of Iran. Keywords: