119651 20230519145457.0 doi 10.1186/s13071-021-04841-z sideral 126126 ART-2021-126126 eng Aguilar-Vega C. A study of the composition of the Obsoletus complex and genetic diversity of Culicoides obsoletus populations in Spain 2021 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Background: The Culicoides obsoletus species complex (henceforth ‘Obsoletus complex’) is implicated in the transmission of several arboviruses that can cause severe disease in livestock, such as bluetongue, African horse sickness, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and Schmallenberg disease. Thus, this study aimed to increase our knowledge of the composition and genetic diversity of the Obsoletus complex by partial sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) gene in poorly studied areas of Spain. Methods: A study of C. obsoletus populations was carried out using a single-tube multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that was designed to differentiate the Obsoletus complex sibling species Culicoides obsoletus and Culicoides scoticus, based on the partial amplification of the cox1 gene, as well as cox1 georeferenced sequences from Spain available at GenBank. We sampled 117 insects of the Obsoletus complex from six locations and used a total of 238 sequences of C. obsoletus (ss) individuals (sampled here, and from GenBank) from 14 sites in mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands for genetic diversity and phylogenetic analyses. Results: We identified 90 C. obsoletus (ss), 19 Culicoides scoticus and five Culicoides montanus midges from the six collection sites sampled, and found that the genetic diversity of C. obsoletus (ss) were higher in mainland Spain than in the Canary Islands. The multiplex PCR had limitations in terms of specificity, and no cryptic species within the Obsoletus complex were identified. Conclusions: Within the Obsoletus complex, C. obsoletus (ss) was the predominant species in the analyzed sites of mainland Spain. Information about the species composition of the Obsoletus complex could be of relevance for future epidemiological studies when specific aspects of the vector competence and capacity of each species have been identified. Our results indicate that the intraspecific divergence is higher in C. obsoletus (ss) northern populations, and demonstrate the isolation of C. obsoletus (ss) populations of the Canary Islands. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2021, The Author(s). info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/727393/EU/Understanding pathogen, livestock, environment interactions involving bluetongue virus/PALE-Blu This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No H2020 727393-PALE-Blu info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ 4.052 2021 TROPICAL MEDICINE 3 / 24 = 0.125 2021 Q1 T1 PARASITOLOGY 8 / 39 = 0.205 2021 Q1 T1 1.089 2021 Parasitology 2021 Q1 Infectious Diseases 2021 Q1 6.4 2021 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Rivera B. Lucientes J. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-0663-8411 Gutiérrez-Boada I. Sánchez-Vizcaíno J.M. 1009 773 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Patología Animal Área Sanidad Animal 14, 1 (2021), 351 [13 pp] Parasites & Vectors Parasites and Vectors 1756-3305 2972627 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/119651/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2423695 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/119651/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:119651 articulos driver 2023-05-18-14:51:45 ARTICLE