Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Fleas belonging to the Pulicidae are prevalent ectoparasites infesting mammals and birds in Iran. This study focused on genetically identifying and characterizing Ctenocephalides canis collected both off-host and infesting humans and various domestic animals in the country.
METHODS: A total of 918 adult flea samples were collected from 10 sites in western and northwestern Iran between April 2018 and May 2019. Out of these, 71 specimens were found off-host, while the remaining fleas were collected from humans (121), sheep (126), goats (184), and dogs (416). Morphological identification at the genus level was performed on all fleas, and ten selected specimens selected based on the sampling sites and hosts were subjected to molecular detection at the species level by using partial amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2, as well as the cytochrome oxidase I (COXI) markers.
RESULTS: The morphological identification confirmed all fleas as Ctenocephalides spp. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial partial sequences confirmed the presence of C. canis. However, molecular divergence was observed among the ten isolates based on the ITS1 and ITS2 with diversity rates estimated at 0.15% and 3.36%, respectively. Notably, the analysis of the COXI marker revealed no molecular divergence among the partial sequences representing the ten studied isolates from C. canis.
CONCLUSIONS: This study explores the diversity of C. canis in the western and northwestern regions of Iran, providing insights into their molecular taxonomy and potential role as disease vectors in these areas.
METHODS: A total of 918 adult flea samples were collected from 10 sites in western and northwestern Iran between April 2018 and May 2019. Out of these, 71 specimens were found off-host, while the remaining fleas were collected from humans (121), sheep (126), goats (184), and dogs (416). Morphological identification at the genus level was performed on all fleas, and ten selected specimens selected based on the sampling sites and hosts were subjected to molecular detection at the species level by using partial amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2, as well as the cytochrome oxidase I (COXI) markers.
RESULTS: The morphological identification confirmed all fleas as Ctenocephalides spp. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial partial sequences confirmed the presence of C. canis. However, molecular divergence was observed among the ten isolates based on the ITS1 and ITS2 with diversity rates estimated at 0.15% and 3.36%, respectively. Notably, the analysis of the COXI marker revealed no molecular divergence among the partial sequences representing the ten studied isolates from C. canis.
CONCLUSIONS: This study explores the diversity of C. canis in the western and northwestern regions of Iran, providing insights into their molecular taxonomy and potential role as disease vectors in these areas.
摘要：
背景：属于Pulicidae的跳蚤是在伊朗感染哺乳动物和鸟类的普遍存在的体外寄生虫。这项研究的重点是对该国的Ctenocephalides犬进行遗传鉴定和表征，这些犬是在寄主外和受感染的人类和各种家畜中收集的。
方法：在2018年4月至2019年5月期间，从伊朗西部和西北部的10个地点收集了918个成年跳蚤样本。在这些中，在宿主外发现71个标本，而其余的跳蚤是从人类收集的（121），绵羊(126)山羊(184)狗（416）对所有跳蚤进行了属水平的形态鉴定，通过使用内部转录间隔区1和2以及细胞色素氧化酶I（COXI）标记的部分扩增和测序，在物种水平上对根据采样位点和宿主选择的十个选定标本进行分子检测。
结果：形态学鉴定证实所有跳蚤均为Ctenocephalidesspp。核和线粒体部分序列的比对和系统发育分析证实了犬的存在。然而,在基于ITS1和ITS2的十个分离株中观察到分子差异，多样性率估计为0.15％和3.36％，分别。值得注意的是,对COXI标记的分析显示，代表来自C.canis的十个研究分离株的部分序列之间没有分子差异。
结论：本研究探讨了伊朗西部和西北部地区犬的多样性，提供他们的分子分类学和在这些领域作为疾病载体的潜在作用的见解。
方法：在2018年4月至2019年5月期间，从伊朗西部和西北部的10个地点收集了918个成年跳蚤样本。在这些中，在宿主外发现71个标本，而其余的跳蚤是从人类收集的（121），绵羊(126)山羊(184)狗（416）对所有跳蚤进行了属水平的形态鉴定，通过使用内部转录间隔区1和2以及细胞色素氧化酶I（COXI）标记的部分扩增和测序，在物种水平上对根据采样位点和宿主选择的十个选定标本进行分子检测。
结果：形态学鉴定证实所有跳蚤均为Ctenocephalidesspp。核和线粒体部分序列的比对和系统发育分析证实了犬的存在。然而,在基于ITS1和ITS2的十个分离株中观察到分子差异，多样性率估计为0.15％和3.36％，分别。值得注意的是,对COXI标记的分析显示，代表来自C.canis的十个研究分离株的部分序列之间没有分子差异。
结论：本研究探讨了伊朗西部和西北部地区犬的多样性，提供他们的分子分类学和在这些领域作为疾病载体的潜在作用的见解。
