Molecular Identification of Newly Recorded Louse Columbicola tschulyschman Eichler (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) From Saudi Arabia With a Note on Genus Columbicola spp. Phylogeny

Noura J Alotaibi; Isra M Al-Turaiki; Reem Alajmi; Boulkenafet Fouzi; Muhammad Amjad Bashir; Zainab Almusawi; Dina M Metwally; Mais A Alzarzor Alajami; Fatemah E Alajmi; Mohamed G Nasser

doi:10.1093/jme/tjac136

Molecular Identification of Newly Recorded Louse Columbicola tschulyschman Eichler (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) From Saudi Arabia With a Note on Genus Columbicola spp. Phylogeny

J Med Entomol. 2022 Nov 16;59(6):1980-1985. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjac136.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Information Technology, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Natural Sciences and Life University of 20th August 1955, Skikda, Algeria.
⁵ Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Science Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan.
⁶ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.
⁷ College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Biology, College of Science, Hafr Al Batin University, Hafr Al Batin 31991, Saudi Arabia.
⁹ Department of Entomology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.

PMID: 36151853
DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjac136

Abstract

Chewing lice comprise a large group of ectoparasites that colonize and adversely affect several domestic and wild birds including pigeons. In Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of studies describing such ectoparasites and their infestation rates. Through this work, a new record, Columbicola, tschulyschman Eichler (C. tschulyschman Eichler) was collected from domestic pigeons (Columba livia domestica, Linnaeus). The collected C. tschulyschman Eichler was morphologically identified based on specific taxonomic keys. Mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (EF-1α) gene fragments were used for molecular identification and phylogenetic reconstruction. In this study, the C. tschulyschman Eichler accounted for around 69.40%. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. tschulyschman Eichler in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. To improve the tree topology and differentiate between genera, further studies should utilize the 16s rRNA.

Keywords: ectoparasite; infestation rate; lice; molecular identification; pigeon.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Animals
Bird Diseases* / parasitology
Columbidae / parasitology
Ischnocera*
Lice Infestations* / parasitology
Lice Infestations* / veterinary
Phthiraptera*
Phylogeny
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Saudi Arabia

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S