Molecular dissimilarities of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Acari: Ixodidae) in Brazil and its relation with samples throughout the world: is there a geographical pattern?

In this study the genetic variability of Rhipicephalus sanguineus within Brazil and its relation with ticks of the same group from different continents was evaluated. Mitochondrial 12S and 16S rDNA fragments of R. sanguineus from seven Brazilian States were sequenced and compared to GenBank sequences of R. sanguineus and R. turanicus ticks from Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and USA. Results indicate a relatively high intra-specific variability between Brazilian samples but also a global latitude linked distribution pattern of at least two major R. sanguineus groups; one group distributed from latitude 25 degrees N to 22 degrees S including R. sanguineus from Brazil, Taiwan and Thailand and R. turanicus from Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the other group found closer to the poles, roughly above 29 degrees N and below 30 degrees S with ticks from Argentina, Uruguay, France, Oklahoma (USA), Israel and Egypt.