title: Multilocus sequence typing using mitochondrial genes (mtMLST) reveals geographic population structure of Ixodes ricinus ticks.
abstract: The hard tick Ixodes ricinus is the principal vector of Lyme borreliosis (LB) group spirochaetes in Europe, but it also transmits a large number of other microbial pathogens that are of importance to animal and human health. Here, we characterise geographically distinct populations of this important ectoparasite based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of multiple mitochondrial (mt) genes (mtMLST). Internal fragments of approximately 500 bp were amplified and sequenced for 6 protein-encoding and ribosomal genes (atp6, coi, coii, coiii, cytB, and 12s). The samples analysed consisted of 506 questing nymphs collected in Britain and Latvia in 2006-2008 and in Latvia in 2002. Although little genetic structure has previously been observed in I. ricinus ticks among Europe, our data could clearly differentiate these 2 populations. Here, we argue that this novel scheme provides additional phylogenetic resolution which is important for understanding the genetic and geographic structure of I. ricinus populations. This in turn will benefit monitoring and management of tick-borne diseases.
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Dinnis
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. Electronic address: frederik.seelig@bath.edu.
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seelig
authors.affiliation: State Agency Infectology Center of Latvia, Linezera Strr. 3, LV-1006 Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Antra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bormane
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donaghy
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Feil
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurtenbach
authors.affiliation: University of Bath, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; National Reference Centre for Borrelia at the Bavarian Authority for Public Health and Food Safety, Branch Oberschleißheim, Veterinärstraße 2, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany; Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Margos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D016678:Genome; D018884:Ixodes / Q000235:genetics*; D007844:Latvia; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000379:methods*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011817:Rabbits; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial
keywords: Biogeography; Ixodes ricinus; Mitochondrial DNA; Multilocus sequence typing; Population structure