Microbial population analysis of the midgut of Melophagus ovinus via high-throughput sequencing

Abstract

Background Melophagus ovinus, one of the most common haematophagous ectoparasites of sheep, can cause anaemia and reductions in weight gain, wool growth and hide value. However, no information is available about the microfloral structure of the midgut of this ectoparasite. In the present study, we investigated the microbial community structure of the midgut contents of fully engorged female and male M. ovinus using Illumina HiSeq.ResultsThe phylum showing the highest abundance was Proteobacteria (99.9%). The dominant bacterial genera in females and males were Bartonella, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia. Some less abundant bacterial genera were also detected, including Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Halomonas, Shewanella, Bacillus and Staphylococcus.Conclusions Bartonella, Arsenophonus and Wolbachia were the dominant bacterial genera in the midgut of female and male M. ovinus. Although detected, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter, Halomonas, Shewanella, Bacillus and Staphylococcus showed low abundances. Importantly, this is the first report of the presence of Arsenophonus, Wolbachia, Enterobacter, Halomonas, Shewanella, Bacillus and Staphylococcus in the midgut of M. ovinus.

Comparative analysis of microbial community in the whole body and midgut from fully engorged and unfed female adult Melophagus ovinus

“…The present study detected Bartonella in all of the experimental samples. This result was consistent with those of our previous study (Duan et al ., ), as well as the reports published by Halos et al . () and Kumsa et al .…”

“…Assessing the microbial community of insect vectors could facilitate further studies with respect to how the microbiota interacts with vectors of animal parasites, as well as how to develop tools for biological control. There have been studies on the characteristics of microbial populations in the midgut of the male and female M. ovinus (Duan et al ., ), including comprehensive investigations of arboviral, bacterial and protozoan vector‐borne pathogens within M. ovinus (Rudolf et al ., ), as well as the characteristics of symbiotic systems associated with M. ovinus (Nováková et al ., ). However, the bacterial community in insects is not always stable.…”

Ontogeny, species identity and environment dominate microbiome dynamics in wild populations of kissing bugs (Triatominae)

“…Francisella in the Gulf Coast tick [75]). Others, like sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus [83]) and a single kissing bug species (Eratyrus mucronatus [84]), were found to carry Bartonella species of an unknown phenotype. In our data, Bartonella was the second most abundant taxa found in every life stage of T. rubida.…”

Molecular Identification of Bartonella melophagi and Wolbachia Supergroup F from Sheep Keds in Xinjiang, China

“…It was originally found in most parts of Europe, Northwest Africa, Mongolia and northern India, and later found in Kenya, South Africa, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and most parts of North America [ 2 ]. However, sheep keds parasitizing on sheep and Tibetan antelopes were only reported in few areas in China such as Xinjiang [ 2 , 8 ], Qinghai [ 2 , 5 ], Liaoning [ 9 ], and Gansu [ 10 , 11 ]. In addition, adult and pupae of sheep keds were found on the imported sheep, sheep skin and wool in quarantine ports of Shandong [ 12 ], Beijing [ 13 ], and Zhejiang [ 14 ].…”

“…Sheep keds could cause damage to skin, inflammation, anemia, slow weight gain, poor wool quality, and low yield for sheep [ 1 , 2 , 10 , 15 ]. Moreover, it is a media for insect-borne pathogens such as Trypanosoma melophagium [ 16 ], Anaplasma ovis [ 17 ], blue-tongue virus [ 18 ], Bartonella schoenbuchensis, Bartonella chomelii [ 19 ], B. melophagi [ 15 , 20 ], and Bartonella spp.…”