{"id":{"repo_id":"gsu","oai_identifier":"oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1704"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/gsu/oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1704","repository":{"repo_id":"gsu","name":"Georgia Southern University","base_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Genetic Structure of Amblyomma Cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) Populations Based on Mitochondrial Gene Sequences","abstract":"Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) is a common tick species that has a large geographic distribution from the southern regions of the United States (Texas), to the Caribbean Islands, Central, and South America. This tick is a vector of the agent of Brazilian spotted fever, an often fatal disease in South America. Throughout its geographic range, populations of A. cajennense have shown differences in ecological adaptation while feeding on a variety of hosts ranging from livestock, birds, and humans. In order to examine the taxonomic status and phylogeographic evolution of this species, we analyzed mitochondrial 12S rDNA, control region (d-loop), and cytochrome oxidase II gene sequences of A. cajennense specimens collected in eight different localities. The results showed that our samples are grouped in five strongly supported monophyletic lineages, each corresponding to geographically or ecologically distinct populations. The strong phylogenetic structure indicates that A. cajennense may actually be a species complex in need of thorough morphological reassessment.","abstract_html":"Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) is a common tick species that has a large geographic distribution from the southern regions of the United States (Texas), to the Caribbean Islands, Central, and South America. This tick is a vector of the agent of Brazilian spotted fever, an often fatal disease in South America. Throughout its geographic range, populations of A. cajennense have shown differences in ecological adaptation while feeding on a variety of hosts ranging from livestock, birds, and humans. In order to examine the taxonomic status and phylogeographic evolution of this species, we analyzed mitochondrial 12S rDNA, control region (d-loop), and cytochrome oxidase II gene sequences of A. cajennense specimens collected in eight different localities. The results showed that our samples are grouped in five strongly supported monophyletic lineages, each corresponding to geographically or ecologically distinct populations. The strong phylogenetic structure indicates that A. cajennense may actually be a species complex in need of thorough morphological reassessment.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Burkman, Erica Janelle"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)","degree_level":"Thesis (open access)","degree_discipline":"Department of Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Lance Durden","William Irby"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-08-26T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2009-08-26T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:27:26Z","subjects":["ETD","Amblyomma cajennense","12S rDNA","Control region (d-loop)","Cytochrome oxidase II","Brazilian spotted fever","Cryptic species","Phylogeography","Genetic structure","Ticks","Mites"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/704","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Lance Durden","William Irby"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Burkman, Erica Janelle"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Department of Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis (open access)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["ETD","Amblyomma cajennense","12S rDNA","Control region (d-loop)","Cytochrome oxidase II","Brazilian spotted fever","Cryptic species","Phylogeography","Genetic structure","Ticks","Mites"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/704"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) is a common tick species that has a large geographic distribution from the southern regions of the United States (Texas), to the Caribbean Islands, Central, and South America. This tick is a vector of the agent of Brazilian spotted fever, an often fatal disease in South America. Throughout its geographic range, populations of A. cajennense have shown differences in ecological adaptation while feeding on a variety of hosts ranging from livestock, birds, and humans. In order to examine the taxonomic status and phylogeographic evolution of this species, we analyzed mitochondrial 12S rDNA, control region (d-loop), and cytochrome oxidase II gene sequences of A. cajennense specimens collected in eight different localities. The results showed that our samples are grouped in five strongly supported monophyletic lineages, each corresponding to geographically or ecologically distinct populations. The strong phylogenetic structure indicates that A. cajennense may actually be a species complex in need of thorough morphological reassessment."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Genetic Structure of Amblyomma Cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) Populations Based on Mitochondrial Gene Sequences"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Lance Durden","William Irby"],"dc:creator":["Burkman, Erica Janelle"],"dc:date.available":["2013-10-17T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) is a common tick species that has a large geographic distribution from the southern regions of the United States (Texas), to the Caribbean Islands, Central, and South America. This tick is a vector of the agent of Brazilian spotted fever, an often fatal disease in South America. Throughout its geographic range, populations of A. cajennense have shown differences in ecological adaptation while feeding on a variety of hosts ranging from livestock, birds, and humans. In order to examine the taxonomic status and phylogeographic evolution of this species, we analyzed mitochondrial 12S rDNA, control region (d-loop), and cytochrome oxidase II gene sequences of A. cajennense specimens collected in eight different localities. The results showed that our samples are grouped in five strongly supported monophyletic lineages, each corresponding to geographically or ecologically distinct populations. The strong phylogenetic structure indicates that A. cajennense may actually be a species complex in need of thorough morphological reassessment."],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/704"],"dc:subject":["ETD","Amblyomma cajennense","12S rDNA","Control region (d-loop)","Cytochrome oxidase II","Brazilian spotted fever","Cryptic species","Phylogeography","Genetic structure","Ticks","Mites"],"dc:title":["Genetic Structure of Amblyomma Cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) Populations Based on Mitochondrial Gene Sequences"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Department of Biology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis (open access)"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Biology (M.S.)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:27:26Z"}