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Updated: Nov 19, 2025
Extraction of Saliva, Haemolymph, Salivary Glands, and Midgut from Individual Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)
Published on: October 31, 2025
Detection of Multiple Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava Ticks Collected from Hedgehogs in
Li-Zhu Fang1, Si-Cong Lei1,2, Zhi-Jian Yan3
1State Key Laboratory of Virology, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
Abstract:
Tickborne intracellular bacterial pathogens including Anaplasma, Coxiella burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia cause emerging infectious diseases worldwide. PCR was used to amplify the genes of these pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava ticks collected from hedgehogs in Central China. Among 125 samples including 20 egg batches, 24 engorged females, and 81 molted male and female adult ticks, the DNA sequences and phylogenetic analysis showed that the minimum infection rate of the ticks was 4% (5/125) for A. bovis, 3.2% (4/125) for C. burnetti, 9.6%, (12/125) for E. ewingii, and 5.6% for Rickettsia including R.japonica (3.2%, 4/125) and R. raoultii (2.4%, 3/125), respectively. The prevalence of these pathogens was significantly higher in dead engorged females (83.3%, 20/24) than in eggs (5%, 1/20) and molted ticks (8.6%, 7/81). Our study indicated that H. flava ticks could be infected with multiple species of tickborne pathogens including Anaplasma, C. burnetti, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia in Central China, and the prevalence of these pathogens was reduced during transovarial and transstadial transmission in ticks, suggesting that ticks may not be real reservoirs but only vectors for these tickborne pathogens.
Insights
This study found multiple tickborne pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava ticks from China. Pathogen prevalence was highest in engorged females, suggesting ticks may be vectors, not reservoirs.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Entomology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Tickborne intracellular bacterial pathogens pose emerging infectious disease threats globally.
- Haemaphysalis flava ticks are vectors for various pathogens.
- Hedgehog populations can harbor ticks and associated pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and diversity of tickborne bacterial pathogens in Haemaphysalis flava ticks from Central China.
- To determine the infection rates of Anaplasma, Coxiella burnetii, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia species.
- To analyze pathogen distribution across different tick life stages and infer transmission dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Collection of Haemaphysalis flava ticks from hedgehogs in Central China.
- DNA extraction from individual ticks and egg batches.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of specific pathogen genes.
- DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for pathogen identification.
Main Results:
- Prevalence rates: Anaplasma bovis (4%), Coxiella burnetii (3.2%), Ehrlichia ewingii (9.6%), Rickettsia japonica (3.2%), and Rickettsia raoultii (2.4%).
- Pathogen prevalence was significantly higher in engorged female ticks (83.3%) compared to eggs (5%) and molted ticks (8.6%).
- Multiple pathogen infections were detected in individual ticks.
Conclusions:
- Haemaphysalis flava ticks in Central China harbor diverse tickborne bacterial pathogens.
- Reduced pathogen prevalence in eggs and molted ticks suggests inefficient transovarial and transstadial transmission.
- Ticks likely act as vectors rather than primary reservoirs for these pathogens.
