Assessment of population genetic structure in the arbovirus vector midge, Culicoides brevitarsis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae), using multi-locus DNA microsatellites

• DOI: 10.1186/s13567-015-0250-8
• Publication Date: 2015-09-25T03:48:36Z
• Authors: Maria G Onyango; Nigel W Beebe; David Gopurenko; Glenn Bellis; Adrian Nicholas; Moses Ogugo; Appolinaire Djikeng; Steve Kemp; Peter J Walker; Jean-Bernard Duch...
• Keywords: Isolation by distance; Panmixia; Population bottleneck

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is a major pathogen of ruminants that transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides spp.). Australian BTV serotypes have origins in Asia and are distributed across the continent into two distinct episystems, one north another east. Culicoides brevitarsis vector Australia entire geographic range virus. Here, we describe isolation use DNA microsatellites gauge their ability to determine population genetic connectivity C. within with countries north. Eleven microsatellite markers were isolated using novel genomic enrichment method identified as useful for analyses sampled populations Australia, northern Papua New Guinea (PNG) Timor-Leste. Significant (P < 0.05) subdivision was observed between all paired regions, though highest levels sub-division involved pair-wise tests PNG (PNG vs. (FST = 0.120) Timor-Leste 0.095)). Analysis multi-locus allelic distributions STRUCTURE most probable two-cluster model, which separated specimens from cluster containing Australia. The source incursions this species more likely be than PNG. Future positive may genetically these loci. vector's panmictic structure cannot explain differential distribution serotypes.