Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host Habitat

<i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> ticks are the main hematophagous ectoparasites of camels, harboring a variety of microbes that can affect tick vector competence and pathogen transmission. To better understand the tick microbiome influenced by sex and host habitat, we analyzed the bacterial co...

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Main Authors: Nighat Perveen, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Daniil Iliashevich, Lianet Abuin-Denis, Olivier Andre Sparagano, Arve Lee Willingham
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/11
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author Nighat Perveen
Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
Daniil Iliashevich
Lianet Abuin-Denis
Olivier Andre Sparagano
Arve Lee Willingham
author_facet Nighat Perveen
Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
Daniil Iliashevich
Lianet Abuin-Denis
Olivier Andre Sparagano
Arve Lee Willingham
author_sort Nighat Perveen
collection DOAJ
description <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> ticks are the main hematophagous ectoparasites of camels, harboring a variety of microbes that can affect tick vector competence and pathogen transmission. To better understand the tick microbiome influenced by sex and host habitat, we analyzed the bacterial community of <i>H. dromedarii</i> male and female ticks collected from camel farms, livestock markets, and slaughterhouses, representing the range of major habitats in the UAE, by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Tick samples were collected during 2022 and 2023. A total of 40 ticks (male (15), female (15), and nymph (10)) were selected from tick samples collected from camels and processed for genomic DNA and next-generation sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform. We obtained 151,168 read counts, and these formed 237 operational taxonomic units representing 11 phyla, 22 classes, 77 families, and 164 genera. The phyla Actinomycetota, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota, and Fusobacteriota were the most abundant. The bacterial genus <i>Corynebacterium</i> dominated the microbiomes of farm-collected female <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks, while <i>Proteus</i> dominated the microbiomes of farm-collected male <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks. In comparison, the microbiomes of <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks collected from slaughterhouse samples were dominated by genus <i>Francisella</i> in both males and females. Our results confirm that the bacterial microbiomes of <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks vary by sex and habitat settings. Furthermore, recent findings could deliver insight into the differences in the ability of camel ticks to acquire, maintain, and transmit pathogens in various habitats that may impact the tick vector competence of medically and agriculturally important species in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Asia.
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spelling doaj-art-07ac2b49675d4faeb59e8300e600d2e72025-01-24T13:35:35ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-12-011611110.3390/insects16010011Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host HabitatNighat Perveen0Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz1Daniil Iliashevich2Lianet Abuin-Denis3Olivier Andre Sparagano4Arve Lee Willingham5Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab EmiratesANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, FranceDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab EmiratesANSES, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, FranceDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, ChinaDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates<i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> ticks are the main hematophagous ectoparasites of camels, harboring a variety of microbes that can affect tick vector competence and pathogen transmission. To better understand the tick microbiome influenced by sex and host habitat, we analyzed the bacterial community of <i>H. dromedarii</i> male and female ticks collected from camel farms, livestock markets, and slaughterhouses, representing the range of major habitats in the UAE, by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Tick samples were collected during 2022 and 2023. A total of 40 ticks (male (15), female (15), and nymph (10)) were selected from tick samples collected from camels and processed for genomic DNA and next-generation sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform. We obtained 151,168 read counts, and these formed 237 operational taxonomic units representing 11 phyla, 22 classes, 77 families, and 164 genera. The phyla Actinomycetota, Bacillota, Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota, and Fusobacteriota were the most abundant. The bacterial genus <i>Corynebacterium</i> dominated the microbiomes of farm-collected female <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks, while <i>Proteus</i> dominated the microbiomes of farm-collected male <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks. In comparison, the microbiomes of <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks collected from slaughterhouse samples were dominated by genus <i>Francisella</i> in both males and females. Our results confirm that the bacterial microbiomes of <i>H. dromedarii</i> ticks vary by sex and habitat settings. Furthermore, recent findings could deliver insight into the differences in the ability of camel ticks to acquire, maintain, and transmit pathogens in various habitats that may impact the tick vector competence of medically and agriculturally important species in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Asia.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/11camel ticks<i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i>vectormicrobiomebacterial communitieshabitat
spellingShingle Nighat Perveen
Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
Daniil Iliashevich
Lianet Abuin-Denis
Olivier Andre Sparagano
Arve Lee Willingham
Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host Habitat
Insects
camel ticks
<i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i>
vector
microbiome
bacterial communities
habitat
title Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host Habitat
title_full Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host Habitat
title_fullStr Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host Habitat
title_full_unstemmed Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host Habitat
title_short Microbiome of <i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i> (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Ticks: Variation in Community Structure with Regard to Sex and Host Habitat
title_sort microbiome of i hyalomma dromedarii i ixodida ixodidae ticks variation in community structure with regard to sex and host habitat
topic camel ticks
<i>Hyalomma dromedarii</i>
vector
microbiome
bacterial communities
habitat
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/1/11
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