Differentially expressed genes in response to amitraz treatment suggests a proposed model of resistance to amitraz in R. decoloratus ticks

Publication date: Available online 18 June 2018Source: International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug ResistanceAuthor(s): Samantha Baron, Roberto A. Barrero, Michael Black, Matthew I. Bellgard, Ellie van Dalen, Christine Maritz-OlivierAbstractThe widespread geographical distribution of Rhipicephalus decoloratus in southern Africa and its ability to transmit the pathogens causing redwater, gallsickness and spirochaetosis in cattle makes this hematophagous ectoparasite of economic importance. In South Africa, the most commonly used chemical acaricides to control tick populations are pyrethroids and amitraz. The current amitraz resistance mechanism described in R. microplus, from South Africa and Australia, involves mutations in the octopamine receptor, but it is unlikely that this will be the only contributing factor to mediate resistance. Therefore, in this study we aimed to gain insight into the more complex mechanism(s) underlying amitraz resistance in R. decoloratus using RNA-sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified when comparing amitraz susceptible and resistant ticks in the presence of amitraz while fed on bovine hosts. The most significant DEGs were further analysed using several annotation tools. The predicted annotations from these genes, as well as KEGG pathways potentially point towards a relationship between the α-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor and ionotropic glutamate receptors in establishing amitraz resistance. All genes w...
Source: International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research