Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Ixodes ovatus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Abstract

Ixodes ovatus is referred to as an obligatory blood-sucking ectoparasite that is capable to infest both humans and animals. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome of I. ovatus was sequenced and analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. With a size of 14,520 bp, the entire mitogenome contains 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 3 control regions (D-loops). Based on the 13 PCGs nucleotide sequences, the phylogenetic relationship of I. ovatus was analyzed using Maximum-likelihood. As suggested by the results of the obtained phylogenety, I. ovatus is most closely associated with Ixodes hexagonus. This study is expected to promote further studies on the evolution of Ixodidae.

Keywords

• ixodes ovatus
• complete mitogenome
• phylogenetic analysis