Molecular detection of Rickettsia, Hepatozoon, Ehrlichia and SFTSV in goat ticks

Ticks are vectors of various pathogens to people, livestock, companion animals and wildlife. We describe here the ticks found on goats in Anhui province of China and the results of molecular studies on six tick-borne pathogens they might harbor. Among 125 ticks collected (119 Haemaphysalis longicornis, n = 119; Rhipicephalus microplus, n = 6), we detected four of the six tick-borne agents for which we tested. In total, 16.8% of the H. longicornis were positive for Candidatus Rickettsia longicornii (18/119), Rickettsia endosymbiont of Leptocybe invasa (1/119) and Rickettsia sibirica (1/119). Hepatozoon canis was positive for 41.6% of the ticks (H. longicornis 42.0%, 50/119; R. microplus 12.5%, 2/6). Only 5.6% of the ticks were positive for Ehrlichia (H. longicornis 5.0%, 6/119; R. microplus 16.7%, 1/6). The Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus was only identified in one H. longicornis. Such data is important in developing effective, integrated and strategic control measures for ticks and the pathogens they transmit.