Morphological and molecular characterization of (Acari: Gamasida: Dermanyssidae) isolates of Al- Baha province.

BACKGROUND

An ectoparasite known as feeds on infected blood with a high frequency in European chicken farms resulting in significant economic losses.

AIM

The objective of the current work was to characterize , which infests laying hens on farms in Southern Al-Baha morphologically, and molecularly, and to determine the evolutionary relationship between the species.

METHODS

All mites that were morphologically recognized as were submitted to molecular analysis by PCR, which focused on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA.

RESULTS

Morphological identification of the parasites uncovered three distinct features: a triangular anal shield, a broader than longer sternal shield, and a rounded posterior genitoventral shield. Each sample was amplified using a single band, measuring 550 bp for the cox1-targeting PCR, and 530 bp for the ITS-targeting PCR. The sequences of were added to the GenBank.

CONCLUSION

At the molecular identification level, this research identifies in Al-Baha for the first time. The results collectively provide a foundation for further research to understand the epidemiology and the part of this superfamily in the epidemiology of certain zoonosis.