author(s)
Ashwini MS, Puttalakshmamma GC, Mamatha GS, Rakshith Ojha, Chandranaik BM, Thimmareddy PM, Placid E D’souza, Jalali SK and Venkatshan T

abstract
The study was carried out to identify the flea species infesting small ruminants in Karnataka state, India. The morphological differentiation of species of genus Ctenocephalides was often confused due to loss of specific characters. Therefore, DNA barcoding of COX1 mitochondrial gene was carried and PCR product yielded a specific amplicon at 700 bp. The COX1 sequences of Ctenocephalides orientis from sheep were showing 99-100% homology to C. orientis from goats whereas, C. felis felis from dogs showed 99% homology to C. felis felis from cat. The accession number of KX467332 and KX467333 for C. orientis from Sheep and goats, KX467334 and KX467335 for C. felis felis from dog and cats respectively was allotted by NCBI. In the phylogenetic analysis, C. orientis formed a separate cluster to the subspecies of C. felis and clustered as sister species with C. canis. Thus, supporting C. orientis as separate species as previously suggested by morphological and molecular approaches.