title: Molecular Characterization of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Northwestern Iran by Using rDNA-ITS2.
abstract: Several mosquito species are vectors of disease; however, to understand their role in disease transmission, accurate species identification is of particular importance. Morphological identification is the main method used, but molecular techniques have emerged as a tool for the identification of closely related species. In this study, mosquitoes from the West Azerbaijan Province in northwestern Iran were characterized on the basis of their rDNA-ITS2 sequences. Nine populations of 6 species of mosquitoes belonging to the genera Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, and Ochlerotatus were studied. To the best of our knowledge, ITS2 sequences of Culiseta longiareolata and Culex hortensis have been reported for the first time. In addition, ITS2 sequences of Culex theileri and Ochlerotatus caspius have been reported for the first time in Iran. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS2 showed that subfamilies Anophelinae and Culicinae of the family Culicidae could be differentiated successfully and subgenera Anopheles and Cellia of the genus Anopheles were separated. The analysis showed that the genera Culex, Culiseta, and Ochlerotatus have diverged separately.
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants of Health Research Center.
authors.forename: Farahnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khoshdel-Nezamiha
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vatandoost
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Oshaghi
authors.forename: Shahyad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azari-Hamidian
authors.forename: Reza Arabi
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mianroodi
authors.forename: Farrokh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dabiri
authors.forename: Masoomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagheri
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Terenius
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Chavshin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D007492:Iran; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal