Identification and molecular analysis of Ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting wild boars (Sus scrofa) and tick-borne pathogens at the Meihua mountain of southwestern Fujian, China.
Wildlife is essential to the biodiversity of the Meihua mountain, southwestern Fujian province, China. However, there have been few surveys of the distribution of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens affecting wild animals at these locations. In this study, 1197 adult ixodid ticks infesting wild boars were collected from 10 sampling sites during 2019. Ticks were identified to species based on morphology, and the identification was confirmed based on mitochondrial 16S, ITS1 and ITS2 rRNA sequences. Eight tick species belonging to 2 genera were identified, including H. longicornis (n = 373, 31.1%), H. flava (n = 265, 22.1%), D. auratus (n = 153, 12.8%), H. hystricis (n = 119, 9.9%), D. silvarum (n = 116, 9.7%), H. bispinosa (n = 114, 9.5%), D. atrosignatus (n = 33, 2.8%), and D. taiwanensis (n = 24, 2.0%). DNA sequences of Rickettsia spp. (spotted fever group) and Babesia spp. were detected in these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the possible existence of Candidatus Rickettsia laoensis and Rickettsia raoultii. This study illustrates the potential threat to wild animals and humans from tick-borne pathogens.
['Wang|Xin|X|', 'Sun|Xiaoshuang|X|', 'Sun|Yankuo|Y|', 'Chen|Kexin|K|', 'Zhang|Kaiyao|K|', 'Xu|Weihua|W|', 'Fan|Kewei|K|', 'Lin|Weiming|W|', 'Chen|Tengteng|T|', 'Lin|Xipan|X|', 'Lin|Kaixiong|K|', 'Chiu|Hung-Chuan|HC|', 'Huang|Cuiqin|C|']
D000818:Animals D001403:Babesia D002681:China D026863:Ixodidae D010802:Phylogeny D012281:Rickettsia D034421:Sus scrofa D013984:Tick Infestations
Ixodid tick Wild boar Tick-borne pathogen Meihua mountain China