Identification on host animals for plague by DNA barcoding technology in Shaanxi province

Abstract

To apply the DNA barcoding technology for identification on host animal and to establish the host animal DNA bar code database on natural foci of plague in Shaanxi. 139 host animals belonging to 3 orders, 6 families and 12 genera and 62 residues belonging to 7 species from 8 different parts of the province, were detected. DNA barcoding technology was used to analyze the DNA CO I gene sequence on the natural foci of plague in Dingbian county. The intra-specific genetic distance was less than 2% while the inter-specific distance ranged from 8.9% to 15.1%. Fourteen major clusters were apparently showed on a Neighbor-Joining tree. Residue samples could be detected regarding the objective gene. Alashan ground squirrel was previously noticed to carry 14 major clusters, which were previously mistakenly named as Citellus dauricus in Dingbian county. DNA barcoding technology could overcome the shortcomings caused by the morphological identification so could be used to identify the host animal and residues in the natural focus of plague.