Abstract
Argasid ticks (Acari: Argasidae) carry and transmit a variety of pathogens of animals and humans, including viruses, bacteria and parasites. There are several studies reporting ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and associated tick-borne pathogens in Xinjiang, China. However, little is known about the argasid ticks and argasid tick-associated pathogens in this area. In this study, a total of 3829 adult argasid ticks infesting livestock were collected at 12 sampling sites of 10 counties in the Peripheral Oases, which carry 90% of the livestock and humans population, around the Tarim Basin (southern Xinjiang) from 2013 to 2016. Tick specimens were identified to two species from different genera by morphology and sequences of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA were derived to confirm the species designation. The results showed that the dominant argasid ticks infesting livestock in southern Xinjiang were Ornithodoros lahorensis (87.86%, 3364/3829). Ornithodoros lahorensis was distributed widely and were collected from 10 counties of southern Xinjiang. Argas japonicus was collected from Xinjiang for the first time. In addition, we screened these ticks for tick-associated pathogens and showed the presence of DNA sequences of Rickettsia spp. of Spotted fever group and Anaplasma spp. in the argasid ticks. This finding suggests the potential role for Argas japonicus as a vector of pathogens to livestock and humans.
Highlights
Ticks could carry and transmit a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae, spirochetes, protozoans, chlamydia, mycoplasma and nematodes [1,2,3,4]
During the period from 2013 to 2016, we collected argasid tick specimens associated with livestock at twenty-seven sampling sites in Oases around the Tarim Basin of southern Xinjiang
DNA sequences analyses showed that 16S ribosomal Ribonucleic Acid (rRNA) sequence derived from group of specimens No.11 shares 99% sequence identity with 16S rRNA for Argas japonicus (AB819156.1 and AB819157.1) while 16S rRNA sequences derived from group of specimens No.1 to 10 share 99% sequence identity with 16S rRNA for Ornithodoros lahorensis (KX530874.1)
Summary
Ticks could carry and transmit a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, rickettsiae, spirochetes, protozoans, chlamydia, mycoplasma and nematodes [1,2,3,4]. Two families of ticks are of medical significance: Ixodidae (hard ticks) and Argasidae (soft ticks). A survey of argasid ticks and tick-borne pathogens. 31460655 to LZ and No 31860698 to Y.H.L.), and the National key research and development program of China (No 2016YFD0501100 to SOW), and the open project of Key Laboratory of Tarim Animal Husbandry Science and Technology, Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps (HS201501 to YHL, HS201801 to LJZ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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