Complete mitochondrial genome characterization and phylogenetic analyses of the main vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus: Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844

Arif Ciloglu; Osman Ibis; Alparslan Yildirim; Munir Aktas; Onder Duzlu; Zuhal Onder; Emrah Simsek; Gamze Yetismis; Vincenzo A Ellis; Abdullah Inci

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101736

Complete mitochondrial genome characterization and phylogenetic analyses of the main vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus: Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2021 Sep;12(5):101736. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101736. Epub 2021 May 1.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; Genome and Stem Cell Center (GENKOK), Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey. Electronic address: arifciloglu@erciyes.edu.tr.
² Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; Genome and Stem Cell Center (GENKOK), Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey.
³ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey.
⁴ Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Firat University, Elazig 23119, Turkey.
⁵ Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey; Preclinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Turkey.
⁶ Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.

PMID: 33992910
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101736

Abstract

The Mediterranean tick, Hyalomma marginatum, is the most important vector of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus and several pathogens that cause animal and human diseases and economic losses to livestock production. Given the medical and veterinary importance of this tick species, we sequenced and characterized its mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) for the first time. We designed two new primer sets and combined long-range PCR with next generation sequencing to generate complete mitogenomes with deep coverage from 10 H. marginatum adults. The mitogenomes contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal subunits, two control regions, and three tick-box motifs. The nucleotide composition of the H. marginatum mitogenomes were A+T biased (79.76%) and exhibited negative AT- and GC- skews across most PCGs. All PCGs were initiated by ATK codons and two truncated termination codons were seen in the COX2 and COX3 genes. All tRNAs exhibited typical cloverleaf structures, except for tRNA^Cys and tRNA^Ser1. A total of 62 polymorphic sites defined ten unique haplotypes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 13 PCGs of 56 tick species revealed that four Hyalomma species (H. marginatum, H. asiaticum, H. rufipes, and H. truncatum) formed a monophyletic clade with strong support. The results of this study provide a comprehensive resource for further studies on the systematics, population genetics, molecular epidemiology, and evolution of ticks.

Keywords: Genetic diversity; Hyalomma marginatum; Ixodida; Mitogenome; Phylogeny; Tick.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Arachnid Vectors / genetics
Disease Vectors
Genome, Mitochondrial*
Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / transmission
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
Humans
Ixodidae / genetics*
Phylogeny