AUTHOR=Chen Bin , Liu Ya-fang , Lu Xin-yan , Jiang Dan-dan , Wang Xuan , Zhang Quan-fu , Yang Guo-ping , Yang Xing 

TITLE=Complete mitochondrial genome of Ctenophthalmus quadratus and Stenischia humilis in China provides insights into fleas phylogeny

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1255017

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1255017

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) are common blood-feeding ectoparasites, which have important economic significance. Limited mitochondrial genome information has impeded the study of flea biology, population genetics and phylogenetics. The <italic>Ctenophthalmus quadratus</italic> and <italic>Stenischia humilis</italic> complete mt genomes are described in this study. The samples were collected from Jianchuan, Yunnan plague foci, China. The mt genomes of <italic>C. quadratus</italic> and <italic>S. humilis</italic> were 15,938 bp and 15,617 bp, respectively. The gene arrangement of mt genome was consistent with that of other fleas, which include 22 tRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes, and two rRNA genes, with a total of 37 genes. The relationship between <italic>C. quadratus</italic> and <italic>S. humilis</italic> in fleas was inferred by phylogenetic analysis of mt genome sequence datasets. Phylogenetic analyzes showed that the <italic>C. quadratus</italic> and <italic>S. humilis</italic> belonged to different species in the same family, and were closely related to <italic>Hystrichopsylla weida qinlingensis</italic> in the same family; and revealed that the family Hystrichopsyllidae is paraphyletic, supporting the monophyly of the order Siphonaptera. This study decodes the complete mt genomes of the <italic>C. quadratus</italic> and <italic>S. humilis</italic> for the first time. The results demonstrate that the <italic>C. quadratus</italic> and <italic>S. humilis</italic> are distinct species, and fleas are monophyletic. Analysis of mt genome provides novel molecular data for further studying the phylogeny and evolution of fleas.</p>