Population genetics of neotropical Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Author(s)

Bruno Wilke, Andre Barretto ^[1] ; Vidal, Paloma Oliveira ^{[2, 3]} ; Suesdek, Lincoln ^{[2, 4]} ; Marrelli, Mauro Toledo ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Dept Epidemiol, BR-01255 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Butantan, Parasitol Lab, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Programa Posgrad Biol Relacao Patogenohospedeiro, BR-05508 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, Programa Posgrad Med Trop, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PARASITES & VECTORS; v. 7, OCT 5 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 14

Abstract

Background: Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes can be found in almost every major city of Brazil and are vectors of filariasis and several arboviruses. Microsatellite markers have been widely used to uncover the genetic structure of various groups of insect populations. The aim of this study was to glimpse the genetic structure of Cx. quinquefasciatus in Brazil. Methods: Nine populations were sampled across Brazil (one of them from a laboratory colony - COL) and another one from Argentina and process regarding the variability of six microsatellite loci. Results: The analyzed loci revealed moderate population genetic structure (mean F-st = 0.12). Dendrograms of genetic distances evidenced two major population clusters, respectively corresponding to the northern and southern populations. The hybrid population Cx. pipiens/quinquefasciatus (from La Plata, Argentina) and the colony population fell outside the major clusters. Those clusters were substructured and there was a significant correlation between genetic and geographic distances and environmental variables (r = 0.51; p > 0.001 and r = 0.46; p > 0.004). Conclusions: Multilocus cluster Bayesian analysis confirmed that populations are mutually distinct, and the set of results point to genetic differences among populations. The presumable low gene flow among them may be due to the large geographic distances (> 1000 km) and to the environmental heterogeneity of the sampled areas. The genetic structure observed in this study may lead to the best understanding of Cx. quinquefasciatus demographical diversity as well as their genetic variations patterns in Brazil so far unknown. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/15039-1 - Molecular and morphological characterization of Aedes aegypti populations (Diptera: Culicidae) from State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Paloma Oliveira Vidal
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate