# Molecular characterization of Panstrongylus chinai from northern Peru and its phylogenetic relationship to ecuadorian populations using the COI gene

## TL;DR

This study uses the COI gene to compare the molecular characteristics and evolutionary relationships of Panstrongylus chinai in northern Peru and Ecuador.

## Contribution

The study identifies distinct haplotypes in Peruvian populations and suggests a phylogenetic origin from Peru to Ecuador.

## Key findings

- Three haplotypes were found in Piura, different from the haplotype reported in Ecuador.
- Phylogenetic analysis suggests the Ecuadorian variant originated from Peruvian populations.
- Molecular differences and descending phylogeny indicate a distribution from Peru to Ecuador.

## Abstract

To determine the molecular characterization of Panstrongylus chinai from northern Peru and its phylogenetic relationship with Ecuadorian populations using the Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I (COI) gene.

We analyzed three adult female P. chinai specimens from populations reared under laboratory conditions, from rural localities in the department of Piura. The legs of each specimen were dissected from the coxa to the tibia, discarding the tarsi and nails, then the DNA was extracted, and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the COI gene was carried out. The PCR products were sequenced by Sanger and analyzed with DNA sequences of the COI gene of P. chinai from Ecuador, obtained from the NCBI portal, Genbank. The DNA sequences of the study, together with similar sequences found in the NCBI database, were inserted into the MEGA v.11 software to construct a phylogenetic tree. They were then transferred to the DnaSP v.5 software for molecular characterization by haplotypes.

Molecular characterization revealed the presence of three haplotypes circulating in the department of Piura, different from the haplotype previously reported in Ecuador. Likewise, phylogenetic analysis suggests the emergence of the evolutionary process of cladogenesis, in which the Ecuadorian variant may have originated from populations of P. chinai from northern Peru.

P. chinai from Ecuador and northern Peru have different molecular characteristics and a descending phylogeny, which infer distribution from Peru to Ecuador.

Determinar la caracterización molecular de Panstrongylus chinai del norte del Perú y su relación filogenética con poblaciones ecuatorianas empleando el gen Citocromo C Oxidasa Subunidad I (COI).

Se analizaron tres ejemplares adultos hembras de P. chinai de poblaciones criadas en condiciones de laboratorio, que corresponden a localidades rurales del departamento de Piura. En cada ejemplar se disectaron las patas desde la coxa hasta la tibia descartando los tarsos y uñas, se extrajo ADN, y se llevó a cabo una reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) del gen COI. Los productos PCR se secuenciaron por Sanger y se analizaron con secuencias ADN del gen COI de P. chinai de Ecuador, obtenidas del portal de NCBI, Genbank. Las secuencias ADN del estudio con sus similares halladas en la base de datos del NCBI, se insertaron en el software MEGA v.11 para la construcción de un arbol filogenético. Luego, se transfirieron al software DnaSP v.5 para su caracterización molecular mediante haplotipos.

La caracterización molecular reveló la presencia de tres haplotipos circulantes en el departamento de Piura, diferentes al haplotipo previamente reportado en Ecuador. Así mismo, el análisis filogenético sugiere la aparición del proceso evolutivo de cladogénesis, en el cual la variante ecuatoriana pudo haberse originado a partir de poblaciones de P. chinai del norte del Perú.

P. chinai de Ecuador y del norte del Perú presentan características moleculares distintas y una filogenética descendente, que infieren una distribución de Perú hacia Ecuador.