Preliminary Study on the Genetic Diversity of Hepatozoon canis in Dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Ticks

Abstract

Hepatozoon canis, a protozoan parasite, is the primary cause of canine hepatozoonosis worldwide, typically causing subclinical infection in dogs but potentially leading to severe illness when accompanied by other pathogens. This study investigates the genetic diversity of H. canis in dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks using bioinformatics analysis. Archived DNA samples from dogs and ticks were analyzed through PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequence comparison using BLAST analysis and phylogenetic analysis using bioinformatics tools. The results revealed genetic variability, identifying several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) critical for distinguishing between different haplotypes. Minimum Spanning Networks created in PopART identified 18 distinct haplotypes across a broad geographical distribution. The study highlights the extensive genetic diversity of H. canis, with implications for understanding its evolutionary dynamics, transmission, pathogenicity, and resistance. Future studies should employ more variable genomic regions to further elucidate the genetic landscape of H. canis, aiding in the development of targeted control strategies and enhancing epidemiological knowledge.

Keywords

• Bioinformatics
• genetic diversity
• haplotype
• Hepatozoon canis
• Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato

Köpeklerde ve Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Kenelerinde Hepatozoon canis'in Genetik Çeşitliliği Üzerine Ön Çalışma

Öz

Hepatozoon canis, köpeklerde tipik olarak subklinik enfeksiyona neden olan ancak diğer patojenlerle birlikte olduğunda ciddi hastalıklara yol açabilen bir protozoon paraziti, dünya çapında köpeklerde hepatozoonozun birincil sebebidir. Bu çalışma, köpeklerde ve Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato kenelerinde H. canis'in genetik çeşitliliğini biyoinformatik analiz kullanarak araştırmaktadır. Köpeklerden ve kenelerden alınan arşiv DNA örnekleri, 18S rRNA geninin PCR amplifikasyonu ile analiz edilmiş ve ardından BLAST analizi ile dizi karşılaştırması ve biyoinformatik araçlar kullanılarak filogenetik analiz yapılmıştır. Sonuçlar, farklı haplotipleri ayırt etmek için kritik olan çeşitli tek nükleotid polimorfizmlerini (SNP'ler) tanımlayarak genetik değişkenliği ortaya koymuştur. PopART'da oluşturulan Minimum Yayılma Ağları, geniş bir coğrafi dağılıma sahip 18 farklı haplotipi belirlemiştir. Çalışma, H. canis'in geniş genetik çeşitliliğini vurgulamakta ve evrimsel dinamiklerini, bulaşma yollarını, patojenitesini ve direncini anlamak için önemli çıkarımlarda bulunmaktadır. Gelecekteki çalışmalar, H. canis'in genetik yapısını daha ayrıntılı bir şekilde açıklığa kavuşturmak, hedeflenmiş kontrol stratejilerinin geliştirilmesine ve epidemiyolojik bilginin artırılmasına yardımcı olmak için daha değişken genom bölgelerini kullanmalıdır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• : Köpek
• genetik çeşitlilik
• Hepatozoon canis
• Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato
• 18S rRNA

Kaynakça

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