Babesia odocoilei is an intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasite which infects cervidae, sometimes causing babesiosis. It is vectored by the tick Ixodes scapularis and is distributed throughout the southeastern United States. The geographic and host range continue to extend as new incidence of infection is detected. A genomic DNA region spanning the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNA gene, and ITS2 of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from 18 B. odocoilei isolates (speciation confirmed by small subunit rRNA analysis) was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction, cloned and sequenced. The isolates originated from 6 different cervidae or bovidae hosts in various U.S. geographic areas. Included in the analysis was a previously described reindeer B. odocoilei-like isolate, RD61, which showed only 99.0% identity in SSU rRNA analysis to B. odocoilei. Percent identity pairwise comparisons among the samples were calculated for both the full ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and individual genomic regions. Identity values for all comparisons ranged from 90% to 100%, with the exception of RD61, which showed no higher than 88% identity for all gene regions. An analysis of fixed differences identified in the ITS1 and ITS2 gene regions of all clones revealed 21 fixed differences in ITS1, and only 11 in ITS2. Most isolates were found to have 2 overall patterns of fixed differences, although some had 1 or 3. Phylogenetic analysis of all sequences for the entire ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 gene region placed most isolates into 2 distinct groups corresponding to those observed in the analysis of fixed differences. This suggested the presence of at least 2 rRNA transcription units in B. odocoilei. ITS analysis failed to demonstrate host or geographic differences that might serve to pinpoint the source of outbreaks of B. odocoilei in farmed and managed host animals. This failure might result from genetic recombination of ITS genomic regions during the tick vector stage. Lack of conspecificity between the RD61 isolate and B. odocoilei was supported by this study; however, more data are needed to clarify the taxonomic status of this B. odocoilei-like isolate.

No description available.

The aim of this study was to obtain the molecular marker of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata based on DNA sequence data of PCR- sequencing and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), and to evaluate the genetic diversity of populations of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata and molecular phylogeny of T. cryptomerioides and Taiwania flousiana Gaussen. The sequence data based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of a total of 108 samples of T. cryptomerioides were determined. Eight different populations of T. cryptomerioides and 12 samples of T. flousiana from Yunnan, China were analyzed. The finding of the study showed that heterogeneity of ITS region within individuals of T. cryptomerioides was high by showing high nucleotide diversity among ITS sequences both in T. cryptomerioides ( £k = 0.18153) and T. flousiana ( £k = 0.19751). The findings fit in Tajima¡¦s D test of neutrality based on DNA sequence variation in the ITS region of T. cryptomerioides and T. flousiana. It is not obvious to incorporate into different population through clustering analysis based on data of the ITS region of T. cryptomerioides and T. flousiana. However, slightly genetic differentiation between T. cryptomerioides and T. flousiana was found, which figured of Fst (Fst = 0.0441~ 0.0856, an average value = 0.0611). On the other hand, the samples were studied by using ISSR markers. Of the 100 primers screened, 4 produced highly reproducible ISSR bands, and 24 discernible DNA fragments were generated with 17 being polymorphic. Based on cluster analysis of molecular data, the cluster is not clear among populations of T. cryptomerioides and T. flousiana. The analysis of AMOVA revealed that the variance component between species of T. cryptomerioides and T. flousiana was 38.54¢H (P < 0.001); however, the variance component within species is 61.46 (P < 0.001). The variation within population of T. cryptomerioides was 84.74¢H (P < 0.001) and the variance between populations is 15.26¢H (P < 0.001), indicating that the genetic diversity of individuals within population was high. The aforementioned data suggest that gene flow among different populations of T. cryptomerioides was high, indicating that the genetic diversity was high among individuals of T. cryptomerioides but was low between populations. Furthermore, it is concluded both species are genetically closer and could be grouped into the same species.

No description available.

Plant-feeding mites represent major pests in agriculture that are of importance to crops world-wide, as large populations of mites reduce the quality and quantity of yields. Alternatives to the use of pesticides are needed due to their negative effects and bio-control agents (predatory mites) remain advantages as they suppress spider mites and other plant pests. This study aims to determine species status of plant-feeding and predatory mites on plants of the family Solanaceae and to apply morphological and molecular data to determine phylogenetic relationships among economically important Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Tetranychidae. The material for this study was collected through plant beating and specimens were preserved in 75% and 96% ethanol respectively and mounted in Heinz’s PVA medium on microscope slides. A survey was conducted during peak seasons to provide enough samples of pest and predatory species. Morphological analysis was performed and initial results indicate that 94% of the species identified were parasitic and 6% were predatory, which led to a predator:prey ratio of 1:17, where Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard had the highest frequency of appearance. A modified Qiagen DNeasy tissue kit extraction protocol was used and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed to amplify ribosomal ITS and mitochondrial COI gene fragments. The nucleotide sequence of a 700-bp fragment for ITS was determined by direct sequencing as well as for a 700-bp and 800-bp fragments for COI. The resulting data included 4 isolates that corresponded morphologically and molecularly with Phytoseiidae and 10 with Stigmaeidae. The phylogenetic trees agreed with the morphological data. For species that lack morphological descriptions in GenBank and are not placed within expected clades, one has to accept the possibility of miss identification and highlights the need to combine morphological and molecular approaches to guarantee solid species diagnosis. Ultimately, Solanaceae contain various parasitic mites, but predators seem low in numbers. This could be problamatic in finding effective bio-control agents. / MSc (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Plant-feeding mites represent major pests in agriculture that are of importance to crops world-wide, as large populations of mites reduce the quality and quantity of yields. Alternatives to the use of pesticides are needed due to their negative effects and bio-control agents (predatory mites) remain advantages as they suppress spider mites and other plant pests. This study aims to determine species status of plant-feeding and predatory mites on plants of the family Solanaceae and to apply morphological and molecular data to determine phylogenetic relationships among economically important Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae and Tetranychidae. The material for this study was collected through plant beating and specimens were preserved in 75% and 96% ethanol respectively and mounted in Heinz’s PVA medium on microscope slides. A survey was conducted during peak seasons to provide enough samples of pest and predatory species. Morphological analysis was performed and initial results indicate that 94% of the species identified were parasitic and 6% were predatory, which led to a predator:prey ratio of 1:17, where Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard had the highest frequency of appearance. A modified Qiagen DNeasy tissue kit extraction protocol was used and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed to amplify ribosomal ITS and mitochondrial COI gene fragments. The nucleotide sequence of a 700-bp fragment for ITS was determined by direct sequencing as well as for a 700-bp and 800-bp fragments for COI. The resulting data included 4 isolates that corresponded morphologically and molecularly with Phytoseiidae and 10 with Stigmaeidae. The phylogenetic trees agreed with the morphological data. For species that lack morphological descriptions in GenBank and are not placed within expected clades, one has to accept the possibility of miss identification and highlights the need to combine morphological and molecular approaches to guarantee solid species diagnosis. Ultimately, Solanaceae contain various parasitic mites, but predators seem low in numbers. This could be problamatic in finding effective bio-control agents. / MSc (Zoology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015