Molecular characterization of bot flies, Oestrus spp., (Diptera, Oestridae), from domestic and wild Bovidae hosts

- We have characterized two different genetic markers, 28S (rRNA) and citochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), from Oestrus larvae collected from domestic sheep and goats, European mouflon and Iberian ibex.
- Our results of sequence analyses demonstrated that the species parasitizing domestic hosts and European mouflon is O. ovis, but that infesting Iberian ibex is a different species.

The identification of Oestrus spp. larvae from Bovidae hosts is a difficult task due to the great morphological similarity between species. The lack of unambiguous identification criteria could have also serious epidemiological implications since domestic and wild hosts are sympatric in many natural areas. In order to accurately identify the Oestrus parasitizing hosts, we characterized two different genetic markers, 28S (rRNA) and COI, in larvae collected from domestic sheep and goats, European mouflon and Iberian ibex. Our sequence analyses demonstrate that all samples, except those from Iberian ibex, greatly resembles O. ovis and so we conclude that the species parasitizing this ibex is not O. ovis. Further studies will be needed to confirm whether it is in fact O. caucasicus, as previously suggested, or even a new species.

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