Variation in ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers 1 among eastern populations of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae).

The base sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) of ribosomal DNA of the tick Ixodes scapularis Say (= I. dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin) was determined to assess genetic divergence between populations along the eastern (Atlantic) seaboard of the United States. Twenty sequences were obtained from localities down the eastern margin of the species's range: 10 from the southeast (Georgia and Florida), seven from the middle east (North Carolina, Maryland), and three from the northeast (Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York). Both the neighbor-joining and parsimony methods cluster most of the southeastern sequences together and most of the middle eastern sequences together but fail to cluster those from the northeast. In addition, an F ratio test revealed significant between-region sequence variation. Thus, there appears to be genetic structuring on at least a macrogeographic scale. Only 23% (SEM = 6.4%) of the sequence variation occurs between regions, with the vast majority of variation, 77% (SEM = 6.4%), being within region. These data, plus other published data, indicate that I. scapularis constitutes a single species. However, the pattern of variation is consistent with restricted gene flow between regions or, alternatively, with recent introgression between northern and southern types in the middle-eastern part of the species's range.