Transcriptome analysis by Illumina sequencing of full-engorged female of <em>Ixodes holocyclus</em> collected from cats and dogs with paralysis tick symptoms. — ASN Events

Transcriptome analysis by Illumina sequencing of full-engorged female of Ixodes holocyclus collected from cats and dogs with paralysis tick symptoms. (#50)

Manuel Rodriguez Valle 1 , Paula M Moolhuijzen 2 , Diane Vankan 1 , Matthew I Bellgard 2 , Ala E Lew- Tabor 1
  1. University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
  2. Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia

I. holocyclus occurs along the eastern coast of Australia from far north Queensland to southern Victoria and is the most virulent tick species in terms of paralysis. Each year I. holocyclus affects ~100 000 domestic animals, with up to 10 000 companion animals. Also, humans are affected by tick bites provoking hypersensitivity reaction. Toxin is produced as the adult female tick engorges and paralysis is frequently induced just prior to detachment. Here we describe a transcriptome survey from salivary glands and viscera samples obtained from full-engorged I. holocyclus tick. Ticks were collected from Cats and Dogs with paralysis symptoms at Brisbane veterinary clinics, QLD.cDNAfrom salivary glands and viscera were sequenced using Illumina technologies producing 141 million paired reads with a total of 94 944 assembled transcripts. A total of twelve and five transcripts related with toxins were found within the samples under study. Different transcripts related with holotoxins were obtained compared with transcripts obtained from I. holocyclus fed on bandicoots. Data shows that the holotoxins are members of a multivariable protein family with highly conserved structure.