Ixodes ricinus Ticks in Norway – genetically distinct population from continental Europe

Abstract

Ixodes ricinus tick is the most widely spread tick species in Europe and is involved in the transmission of a number of diseases to animals and humans. The application of molecular markers to the study of ticks has recently yielded new insights into their population structures and taxonomic relationships. Ticks were collected from costal area of Southern Norway from rodents and vegetation. Genetic diversity among I. ricinus tick larvae have been investigated using sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA control region, 16S rRNA and cytb genes and combined with sequences available from GenBank. Although the overall level of nucleotide diversity was low, investigated populations of I. ricinus showed considerable haplotype diversity. Phylogenetic analysis according to cytb and 16S rRNA genes did not show significant differences in the genetic structure among investigated European populations of I.ricinus. However control region clearly demonstrate that I. ricinus ticks from Baltic countries and Norway form distinct populations