Molecular characterization of tick genera Haemaphysalis, Ixodes, and Amblyomma in Korea

초록

Ticks are important ectoparasites that serve as key vectors of various pathogens, posing significant risks to both human and animal health. In this study, 3 genera and 5 species of ticks, including <i>Haemaphysalis longicornis</i>, <i>H. flava</i>, <i>H. doenitzi</i>, <i>Ixodes nipponensis</i>, and <i>Amblyomma testudinarium</i>, were analyzed both morphologically and molecularly. Morphological identification was conducted using established taxonomic keys, followed by molecular characterization through analysis of complete cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (<i>cox1</i>, 1,539 bp) and mitochondrial 16S rDNA (1,191–1,215 bp), and nuclear 18S rDNA (1,812–1,816 bp). Phylogenetic and pairwise distance analyses demonstrated that all 3 genes were effective for genus identification; <i>cox1</i> and mitochondrial 16S rDNA were more effective than 18S rDNA in species identification. Additionally, this study is the first to identify <i>H. doenitzi</i> in the Korean mainland via molecular characterization. These results may serve as reference data for the molecular identification of tick species.

키워드