Analysis of gene expression in poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, by RNAscope in situ hybridization

The poultry red mite (PRM; Dermanyssusgallinae) is a hematophagous ectoparasite that mainly infests chickens, and its infestation causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry. In this study, we examined the use of RNAscope-based in situ hybridization (ISH) to characterize gene expression in PRM. We analyzed the mRNA expression of Dermanyssus gallinae cathepsin D-1 (Dg-CatD-1) and Dermanyssus gallinae cystatin (Dg-Cys). RNAscope ISH analysis revealed that mRNA expression of Dg-CatD-1 was observed in the digestive tract, and Dg-Cystatin mRNA was expressed in the ovaries in addition to the digestive tract. RNAscope ISH could be applicable for the analysis of gene expression in each tissue of PRM and is an effective method to investigate the characteristics of target genes.

Automated summary

In this study, RNAscope-based in situ hybridization (ISH) was used to analyze gene expression in the poultry red mite (PRM). The results showed that Dg-CatD-1 mRNA was mainly expressed in the digestive tract, while Dg-Cystatin mRNA was expressed in the ovaries and digestive tract. RNAscope ISH is an effective method for investigating gene expression and characterizing target genes in PRM.