First Report of Rickettsia conorii in Hyalomma kumari Ticks

As a vector of wide range of pathogenic agents, ticks pose health threats to wild and domestic animals, and humans. Information is unavailable about the prevalence and spatial survey of ticks and associated spp. in Pakistan. Concerning this knowledge gap, the present study aimed to molecularly detect species associated with infesting small ruminants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. A total of 409 ticks were collected from 163/295 infested hosts with an infestation rate of 55.25%. A total of 204 females, 158 males, and 47 nymphs were collected. Goats were heavily infested by 224 ticks having an infestation rate of 58.33% (98/168), whereas sheep were infested by 185 ticks having a lesser infestation rate of 51.18% (65/127). Genomic DNA extracted from ticks was used for the amplification of tick ( , 16S rRNA, ITS-2) species and ( , , and ) partial genes. Eighty-three ticks were subjected to PCR, and 8/83 (9.6%) were found positive for rickettsial agents. The and 16S rRNA sequences of showed 98.90-99.74% identity with sequences reported from Pakistan, and phylogenetically clustered to the corresponding species reported from Pakistan and India. The obtained rickettsial , , and sequences showed 100% identity with sp. of the reported from Pakistan. In the phylogenetic trees, rickettsial sequences clustered with uncharacterized sp. from Pakistan and from Israel, Russia, South Africa, and India. The present molecular based detection of -associated will facilitate effective surveillance in the region.