Genetic diversity of termites from Ta'if City, Saudi Arabia

Aim: In Saudi Arabia, termites are considered as notorious pests that cause enormous damage in both rural and urban areas. The diversity of termites collected from various locations in Ta'if City were characterized, based on the mitochondrial genes mt12S rRNA, mtCOI and mtCOII. Methodology: Termite samples were manually collected during the spring of 2016 from different areas. Five different areas were surveyed to cover all regions of Ta'if City. Molecular identification method was applied to study genetic diversity of termite. Results: A total of 2229 termites were identified as eight species from three families on the basis of best gene (mt12S rRNA). Microcerotermes sp. was the most abundant species, whereas Angulitermes sp. was the least abundant with 0.8% representation. Anacanthotermes ochraceus and Microtermes sp. showed the least amount of intraspecific variation, the two species being 100% identical. Microcerotermes arboreus showed the highest intraspecific variation, ranging from 0.0% to 4.0%. Interspecific variability between the collected and identified species ranged from 7% to 21%. Interpretation: The results indicated the presence of eight different species of termites and the possibility of three new species based on genetic data.

Molecular identification of ticks infesting camels and the detection of their natural infections with Rickettsia and Borrelia in Riyadh province, Saudi Arabia

@#The present work aimed to identify camel ticks Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma marginatum using direct sequence of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene and the detection of their natural infection rate with Rickettsia and Borrelia using the PCR/ hybridization method for amplification of the citrate synthase (gltA) gene. The phylogenetic analysis showed 99% similarity between Hyalomma dromedarii and its reference with accession # L34306.1, as well as between Hyalomma marginatum and its reference with accession # KT391060.1 obtained from GenBank data base. The prevalence of H. dromedarii and H. marginatum was about 99% and 1%, respectively. The intraspecific variation among H. dromedarii ranged between 0.2–6.6%. The interspecific variation between H. dromedarii and H. marginatum was 18.3%. PCR/hybridization of the sampled H. dromedarii detected about 31%, 37% and 18% natural infection with Rickettsia, Borrelia and co-infection with both pathogens, respectively. In contrast, none of Rickettsia or Borrelia was detected in H. marginatum. The present study emphasizes the accuracy of the identification of camel ticks based on molecular techniques. The ability of H. dromedarii to spread more than one disease is an important issue from the epidemiological standpoint. Future epidemiological research should be carried out in Saudi Arabia to monitor the distribution of tick species and suggest effective control strategies.