Phylogenetic study of Uranotaenia (Psudoficalbia)unguculata(Diptera: Culicidae), a potential arbovirus vector

Background: Some studies performed on Unguiculataunguiculata population reported the existence of a novel lineage of West Nile virus in this species from Austria, Romania, Hungary and Russia.Molecular techniques are important to investigation on the phylogenetic relationship of the potent arbovirus vectors.Objectives: This investigation was carried out to determine the genetic variations using ITS2 rDNA genes among Unguiculata unguiculatapopulationMaterialsand Methods: This study was carried out in Marivan area, Kurdistan Province, western Iran. A total of 42 specimens ofUnguiculataunguiculatawere collected using Pit shelter, Hand collection, as well as Human and Animal baited bed net trap techniques and DNA extraction were performed for PCR with primers targeting the ITS2 rDNA region. Sequencing was done and phylogenetic tree was onstructed to study the evolutionary relationship among the current species.One ITS2 gene sequences of Anopheles fluviatilis used as an Out group.Results:Out of 7sample result of ITS2 sequences of Ur.unguiculata were submitted in GenBank.Unguiculataunguiculatashows one distinct pools of population in Marivan area as well as border line area of Iran and Iraq. It is suggested no evolvement of geographic race or allopatric speciation.Conclusion:It is the first formal entomological research which defines the occurrence of Unguiculataunguiculata, as a new recordin western Iran. Also, it is the first molecular assay which defines variationof Unguiculataunguiculatausing ITS2 rDNA in Iran. The Molecular study using microsatellite and gene COI in the future was suggested..

کلیدواژه ها:

Unguiculataunguiculata ، ITS2 rDNA Phylogenetic study ، Iran ، Iraq