Unraveling the phylogenetics of genetically closely related species, Haemaphysalis japonica and Haemaphysalis megaspinosa, using entire tick mitogenomes and microbiomes.

Ticks have a profound impact on public health. Haemaphysalis is one of the most widespread genera in Asia, including Japan. The taxonomy and genetic differentiation of Haemaphysalis spp.

Mitogenomic exploration supports the historical hypothesis of anthropogenic diffusion of a zoonotic parasite .

Animal movement across regions owing to human activity can lead to the introduction of pathogens, resulting in disease epidemics with medical and socioeconomic significance. Here, we validated the hypothesis that human activity, such as the transportation of infected animals, has played a significant role in introducing the zoonotic parasite into Hokkaido, Japan, by synthesizing and evaluating parasite genetic data in light of historical records. Our analysis indicates that a major genetic group in Hokkaido originated from St.

The dynamics of the microbiome in Ixodidae are shaped by tick ontogeny and pathogens in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.

Tick-borne diseases have recently been considered a potential emerging public health threat in Malaysia; however, fundamental studies into tick-borne pathogens and microbiome appear limited. In this study, six tick species (, , and ) collected from two primary forests and an oil palm plantation in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, were used for microbiome analysis targeting bacterial 16S rDNA using next-generation sequencing (NGS). In addition, bacterial species were further characterized in conventional PCRs to identify potential pathogens.

Dietary niche breadth influences the effects of urbanization on the gut microbiota of sympatric rodents.

Cities are among the most extreme forms of anthropogenic ecosystem modification, and urbanization processes exert profound effects on animal populations through multiple ecological pathways. Increased access to human-associated food items may alter species' foraging behavior and diet, in turn modifying the normal microbial community of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), ultimately impacting their health. It is crucial we understand the role of dietary niche breadth and the resulting shift in the gut microbiota as urban animals navigate novel dietary resources.

Comparative mitogenomics elucidates the population genetic structure of in Japan and a closely related species in Myanmar.

Ticks are the second most important vector capable of transmitting diseases affecting the health of both humans and animals. Koch 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae), is a hard tick species having a wide geographic distribution in Asia. In this study, we analyzed the composition of whole mitogenomes from various geographical regions in Japan and investigated the population structure, demographic patterns, and phylogeographic relationship with other ixodid species.

Novel symbionts and potential human pathogens excavated from argasid tick microbiomes that are shaped by dual or single symbiosis.

Research on vector-associated microbiomes has been expanding due to increasing emergence of vector-borne pathogens and awareness of the importance of symbionts in the vector physiology. However, little is known about microbiomes of argasid (or soft-bodied) ticks due to limited access to specimens. We collected four argasid species (, , , and ) from the nests or burrows of their vertebrate hosts.

Comparing the gut microbiome along the gastrointestinal tract of three sympatric species of wild rodents.

Host-microbe interactions within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) play a pivotal role in shaping host physiology, ecology, and life history. However, these interactions vary across gut regions due to changes in the physical environment or host immune system activity, thereby altering the microbial community. Each animal species may harbor their own unique microbial community due to host species-specific ecological traits such as dietary habits, micro-habitat preferences, and mating behavior as well as physiological traits.

Reconstruction of mitochondrial genomes from raw sequencing data provides insights on the phylogeny of Ixodes ticks and cautions for species misidentification.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology has profoundly been involved in sequencing whole genomes of several organisms in a fast and cost-effective manner. Although HTS provides an alternative biomonitoring method to the time-consuming and taxonomy-expertise dependent morphological approach, still we cannot rule out the possibility of the impediment and misidentification biases. In this article we aim to retrieve whole mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences from publicly available raw sequencing data for phylogenetic comparison of Ixodes persulcatus.

Applications of Blocker Nucleic Acids and Non-Metazoan PCR Improves the Discovery of the Eukaryotic Microbiome in Ticks.

Ticks serve as important vectors of a variety of pathogens. Recently, the viral and prokaryotic microbiomes in ticks have been explored using next-generation sequencing to understand the physiology of ticks and their interactions with pathogens. However, analyses of eukaryotic communities in ticks are limited, owing to the lack of suitable methods.

Exploring Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Microbiomes Helps in Detecting Tick-Borne Infectious Agents in the Blood of Camels.

Dromedary camels () are widely distributed in Africa, the Middle East and northern India. In this study, we aimed to detect tick-borne pathogens through investigating prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms in camel blood based on a metagenomic approach and then to characterize potentially pathogenic organisms using traditional molecular techniques. We showed that the bacteria circulating in the blood of camels is dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria.

Infection among Ixodid Ticks Exhibits Species Dependence and Suggests a Vertical Pattern of Transmission.

Members of the genus are Gram-positive bacteria without cell walls. Some species can cause disease in arthropods such as bees, whereas others provide their host with resistance to pathogens. Ticks also harbour , but their role has not been elucidated yet.

Anthropogenic interferences lead to gut microbiome dysbiosis in Asian elephants and may alter adaptation processes to surrounding environments.

Human activities interfere with wild animals and lead to the loss of many animal populations. Therefore, efforts have been made to understand how wildlife can rebound from anthropogenic disturbances. An essential mechanism to adapt to environmental and social changes is the fluctuations in the host gut microbiome.

Amblyomma testudinarium infestation on a brown bear (Ursus arctos yesoensis) captured in Hokkaido, a northern island of Japan.

The tick Amblyomma testudinarium Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) is known as a vector of several pathogens such as Rickettsia tamurae and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus. This tick species is present in many Asian countries, including Japan, where its distribution is limited to the warm areas of Kanto region and the southwestern region. The present study reports the recovery of a partially engorged A.

Molecular identification and characterization of piroplasm species in Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis), Japan.

Babesia and Theileria species are tick-borne protozoan parasites that have a veterinary and zoonotic importance. In order to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of these parasites, a total of 269 sika deer blood DNA samples collected from Hokkaido, Japan, were examined for Babesia and Theileria species by touch-down PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization was then used to detect 12 piroplasm species.