Fig. 2From: Combining deep sequencing and conventional molecular approaches reveals broad diversity and distribution of fleas and Bartonella in rodents and shrews from Arctic and Subarctic ecosystemsFlowchart of study methods. A Small mammals were necropsied, and liver, lung, spleen and kidney were collected. B Approximately 10 mg of each tissue was pooled, and DNA was extracted. C Samples were tested via a conventional PCR targeting ITS and gltA markers. D Bartonella species were identified via ITS amplicons and Sanger sequencing. E A subset of samples [including those that failed during Sanger sequencing, those that were unidentified (< 97% identity) and those that were identified (≥ 97% identity)] were selected for the modified gltA PCR. F Samples that successfully amplified underwent deep sequencing via MiSeq, and amplicon sequence variants were identified. G Fleas were removed from small mammals and morphologically and molecularly identified. Fleas included in the modified gltA PCR originated from northern red-backed voles collected from Nunavut. Created with BioRender.comBack to article page