scholarly journals Population Genetics of Phlebotomus papatasi from Endemic and Nonendemic Areas for Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Morocco, as Revealed by Cytochrome Oxidase Gene Subunit I Sequencing

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Souad Guernaoui ◽  
Omar Hamarsheh ◽  
Deborah Garcia ◽  
Didier Fontenille ◽  
Denis Sereno
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Phlebotomus Papatasi ◽  
High Atlas ◽  
Atlas Mountains ◽  
Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
High Atlas Mountains ◽  
Endemic Areas

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) caused by Leishmania major Yakimoff & Shokhor and transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) is a public health concern in Morocco. The disease is endemic mainly in pre-Saharan regions on the southern slope of the High Atlas Mountains. The northern slope of the High Atlas Mountains and the arid plains of central Morocco remain non-endemic and are currently considered high risk for ZCL. Here we investigate and compare the population genetic structure of P. papatasi populations sampled in various habitats in historical foci and non-endemic ZCL areas. A fragment of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was amplified and sequenced in 59 individuals from 10 P. papatasi populations. Haplotype diversity was probed, a median-joining network was generated (FST) and molecular variance (AMOVA) were analyzed. Overall, we identified 28 haplotypes with 32 distinct segregating sites, of which seven are parsimony informative. The rate of private haplotypes was high; 20 haplotypes (71.4%) are private ones and exclusive to a single population. The phylogenetic tree and the network reconstructed highlight a genetic structuration of these populations in two well defined groups: Ouarzazate (or endemic areas) and Non-Ouarzazate (or nonendemic areas). These groups are separated by the High Atlas Mountains. Overall, our study highlights differences in terms of population genetics between ZCL endemic and non-endemic areas. To what extent such differences would impact the transmission of L. major by natural P. papatasi population remains to be investigated.

The Atlas Massif separates a northern and a southern mitochondrial haplotype group of North African water frogs Pelophylax saharicus (Anura: Ranidae) in Morocco

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aziza Lansari ◽  
Miguel Vences ◽  
Susanne Hauswaldt ◽  
Ralf Hendrix ◽  
David Donaire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Haplotype ◽  
North African ◽  
High Atlas ◽  
Water Frog ◽  
The North ◽  
Water Frogs ◽  
Atlas Mountains ◽  
High Atlas Mountains ◽  
Gene Coi ◽  
Area North

We assessed the genetic variation of 47 Moroccan populations of the North African water frog (Pelophylax saharicus) using partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI). All 239 samples belonged to the main haplotype clade previously identified from Morocco, with no haplotypes of the Algerian/Tunisian clades among our samples. Altogether 40 haplotypes were found, with a maximum of 13 mutational steps between them. Two weakly divergent haplogroups separated by a minimum of six mutational steps were distributed (i) in the Anti-Atlas and the Sahara (south of the High Atlas Mountains) versus (ii) in the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, and in the Rif area north of the Atlas Massif. Haplotypes of the northern haplogroup were found at the southernmost locality, which might be due to human translocation, and co-occurrence of the two haplogroups was recorded at three sites within the range of the northern haplogroup.

Relationship Between the Distribution and Biodiversity of Sand Flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) With the Incidence of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Endemic Foci of Golestan Province, Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1768-1774
Author(s):  
Aioub Sofizadeh ◽  
Kamran Akbarzadeh ◽  
Ehsan Allah Kalteh ◽  
Fatemeh Karimi
Keyword(s):  
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Wiener Index ◽  
Sand Flies ◽  
Phlebotomus Papatasi ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Phlebotomine Sand Flies ◽  
Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽  
Golestan Province ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is prevalent in Golestan Province, Iran. The current study determined the relationship between the distribution and biodiversity of sand flies with cutaneous leishmaniasis at 14 villages in plain and hillsides areas. In each village from July to September 2017, 60 sticky traps and 2 CDC light traps were laid. Spearman and Mann–Whitney tests were used to determine the relationship between the incidence of ZCL and the abundance of different species of sand flies. Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, Evenness, and Margalef indices were calculated to estimate the diversity of species. A total of 5,295 phlebotomine sand flies were collected, comprising 10 species of the genus Phlebotomus (3,947 flies) and 7 species of genus Sergentomyia (1,248 flies). The abundance of sand flies and incidence of ZCL in plain areas were greater than that of hillsides areas (P = 0.013, P = 0.002). There was a significant correlation between the incidence of ZCL and the abundance of Phlebotomus papatasi (r = 0.72, P = 0.004) and P. caucasicus groups (P = 0.006; 0.022). In the Shannon-Wiener index, the rest of the biodiversity indices were reduced in higher-altitude areas. Increasing Shannon-Wiener index showed higher diversity of sand flies in higher-altitude areas. Data of the reported cases of leishmaniasis in plain areas can reveal the relationship between less diversity index (Shannon-Wiener), higher dominant diversity index (Simpson), and incidence of leishmaniasis in these areas.

Cambrian corynexochid trilobites from Morocco

1994 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1306-1320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerd Geyer
Keyword(s):  
High Atlas ◽  
Atlas Mountains ◽  
High Atlas Mountains ◽  
Strong Relationships

Corynexochid trilobites of the Cambrian of Morocco are described and the subfamily Acontheinae is revised. With Kootenia beethoveni n. sp., Kootenia spp. indet., Strettonia sp. A, Clavigellus annulus n. gen. and sp., and gen. et sp. incert., the Moroccan Corynexochida comprise only a few forms that are almost exclusively restricted to the High Atlas Mountains. Biogeographical relationships are weak; strong relationships may exist with the faunas of the Shropshire area as already exemplified by some eodiscid and ellipsocephalid taxa.

The Imiter Gabbroic Complex, High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

1979 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Smith ◽  
J. G. Pozzobon
Keyword(s):  
High Atlas ◽  
Atlas Mountains ◽  
High Atlas Mountains

scholarly journals Nowhere to swim to: climate change and conservation of the relict Dades trout Salmo multipunctata in the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Oryx ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Clavero ◽  
Javier Calzada ◽  
Javier Esquivias ◽  
Ana Veríssimo ◽  
Virgilio Hermoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Active Management ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Catchment Scale ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Relict Species ◽  
High Atlas ◽  
Atlas Mountains ◽  
High Atlas Mountains

AbstractMontane biota is vulnerable to climate change, especially in the case of relict species in environmentally extreme areas. The Dades trout Salmo multipunctata is a relict species from the Draa basin, on the southern slopes of the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Apart from its genetic and morphological singularity almost nothing is known about this species. We surveyed the whole potential distribution range of the Dades trout and found that only two isolated populations exist (in the Dades and M'Goun catchments), occupying an extremely small range, < 22 km of stream reaches in a narrow altitudinal range (c. 2,150–2,375 m). The species was found more frequently and more abundantly at intermediate elevations within its range, and somatic condition increased with altitude. Climatically suitable areas for the Dades trout will be confined to mountain summits without permanent water bodies by 2070. The Dades trout is a Critically Endangered species in need of active management for its persistence. We propose actions for the long-term conservation of the species, including catchment-scale erosion control, riverbed restoration, local-scale measures to mitigate global warming, and an ex situ breeding programme.

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