Morphological and Molecular Profiling of the Recently Discovered Ectoparasitic Louse Fly, (Pseudolynchia canariensis) (Diptera: Hippoboscidae)

Abstract

Background: Pseudolynchia canariensis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) is an obligate blood-feeding ectoparasite of wildlife and a significant ectoparasite of pigeons, responsible for the spread of infections to both birds and humans. Objective: This research aimed to detect P. canariensis in adult pigeons and to identify them both physically and molecularly in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The prevalence of P. canariensis was 7% among all assessed pigeons. Methods: Microscopic examinations revealed that a total of two hundred pigeons were assessed for the presence of P. canariensis from March 2022 to July 2023. Results: P. canariensis was identified and documented from pigeons for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. P. canariensis is a medium to large-sized organism characterised by a flattened head, thorax, and abdomen, accompanied by short sheathed palpi that are twice as long as they are broad. The wings have feeble posterior veins, comprising five veins posterior to the costal vein. The molecular characterisation of this fly, utilising the COI (GenBank accession No. OR288145), revealed a sequence of 704 bp, exhibiting 99.78% identity with the COI gene of Pseudolynchia sp. Conclusion: The study emphasises that pigeons are significant veterinary hosts and may serve as a crucial source of infection for other bird species that share similar parasite fauna; furthermore, sanitation and cleanliness are vital for managing external parasitism.