Abstract
The tropical bed bug, Cimex hemipterus (F.), has now emerged as an important public health pest in the tropics. Despite its alarming infestation rate, the information on its population genetics remains scarce. Here, we described the infestation structure and population dynamics of C. hemipterus in the tropics, especially Malaysia and Singapore, based on eight novel microsatellites and two mtDNA markers, including cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and 16S rRNA genes. Across populations, microsatellite data revealed high genetic diversity with significant genetic differentiation and restricted gene flow. Analysis within populations revealed evidence of a recent bottleneck. Nonetheless, elevated genetic diversity in nearly all populations suggests that the propagule in C. hemipterus populations were much diverse, distantly related (mean r = 0.373), and not significantly inbred (mean FIS = 0.24) than that observed in Cimex lectularius from previous studies. We observed seven mtDNA haplotypes across the 18 populations studied (Hd = 0.593) and several populations displayed more than one matrilineal descent. The two markers were generally congruent in suggesting a common, genetically diverse (especially at the nuclear region) source population with possibilities of multiple introductions for the bed bug populations in the present study.
Highlights
The bed bug is a nocturnal blood-sucking ectoparasite that has emerged as an important public health pest globally [1]
This study provides an overview on theprovided population genetics infestation dynamics of the tropical
This haplotype study provides an overview on the population genetics and infestation dynamics of the each were given in bed bug, C. hemipterus, based on two independently inherited molecular markers, namely microsatellites tropical bed bug, C. hemipterus, based on two independently inherited molecular markers, namely and mtDNA markers
Summary
The bed bug is a nocturnal blood-sucking ectoparasite that has emerged as an important public health pest globally [1]. All mobile stages of bed bugs feed exclusively on blood from various hosts including humans, domesticated animals, birds, and bats for development and growth [2]. This insect is known for causing physical, psychological, and medical complications in humans [3,4,5]. Several studies had reported that bed bugs may act as competent vectors for various pathogens, including Bartonella quintana and Trypanosoma cruzi, that cause trench fever and Chagas disease, respectively [4,6,7]. Some of Insects 2020, 11, 472; doi:10.3390/insects11080472 www.mdpi.com/journal/insects
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