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<p>Among hard ticks, <i>Rhipicephalus</i> species are of considerable veterinary and public health importance. <i>Rhipicephalus linnaei</i>, a member of the <i>Rhipicephalus sanguineus</i> species complex, and has been reported in tropical regions; however, it has not yet been reported in Pakistan. In this study, a comprehensive morph-molecular analysis was conducted to determine the occurrence of <i>Rhipicephalus</i> sp. in Pakistan. Hard ticks, particularly <i>Rhipicephalus</i> species, were collected from dogs, donkeys, wild boars and goats in 26 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The collected specimens were morphologically identified as a member of <i>Rh. sanguineus</i> species complex, characterized by a reddish-brown conscutum, angled basis capituli, and distinct genitalia, and further confirmed by molecular-based analysis using 16&#xa0;S rDNA, <i>cox1</i> and 12&#xa0;S rDNA sequencing. The BLAST analysis for 16&#xa0;S rDNA revealed 97.93–100% identity with <i>Rh. sanguineus</i> reported from Pakistan, followed by 96.12–97.4% identity with the sequences from neighboring countries. Furthermore, the 16&#xa0;S rDNA sequence showed 99.63% identity with <i>Rhipicephalus</i> sp. morphotype III, 96.40-94.16% identity with <i>Rh. linnaei</i>, 96.40% with <i>Rhipicephalus secundus</i>, 94.77% with <i>Rhipicephalus turanicus</i> and 94.56% with <i>Rh. turanicus</i>. In the case of <i>cox1</i> sequences showed 99.24–100% identity with <i>Rh. sanguineus</i> from Pakistan, followed by 98.86% identity with the sequences from neighboring countries. Whereas the <i>cox1</i> sequence showed 89.58–92.23% identity with <i>Rh. linnaei</i>, 91.45% with <i>Rh. secundus</i> and 90.24–90.78% with <i>Rh. turanicus.</i> The 12&#xa0;S rDNA sequence showed 99.59% and 99.36% maximum identity with <i>Rhipicephalus</i> sp. morphotype III, followed by 94.7% identity with <i>Rh. turanicus</i>, 94.53% with <i>Rh. secundus</i>, 93.09% with <i>Rh. linnaei</i>, and 91.4% with <i>Rh. sanguineus.</i> This study found no evidence of <i>Rh. linnaei</i>, and identified a distinct lineage of <i>Rhipicephalus</i> species, clustered with <i>Rhipicephalus</i> sp. III in clade I, within the <i>Rh. sanguineus</i> species complex from Pakistan. Further mitogenome and nuclear data are needed to clarify taxonomic status and genetic variability of <i>Rhipicephalus</i> species in the region. These findings have important implications for understanding the epidemiology of <i>Rhipicephalus</i> species complex.</p>

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Genetic and morphological data indicate the occurrence of a Rhipicephalus sp. and the absence of Rhipicephalus linnaei in Pakistan

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月14日

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  • Muhammad Numan,
  • Zaibullah Khan,
  • Sher Bahadar Khan,
  • Mohibullah Shah,
  • Iram Liaqat,
  • Itabajara da Silva Vaz Junior,
  • Lidia Chitimia-Dobler,
  • Abid Ali,
  • Zhihua Sun,
  • Mashal M. Almutairi

摘要

Among hard ticks, Rhipicephalus species are of considerable veterinary and public health importance. Rhipicephalus linnaei, a member of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus species complex, and has been reported in tropical regions; however, it has not yet been reported in Pakistan. In this study, a comprehensive morph-molecular analysis was conducted to determine the occurrence of Rhipicephalus sp. in Pakistan. Hard ticks, particularly Rhipicephalus species, were collected from dogs, donkeys, wild boars and goats in 26 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The collected specimens were morphologically identified as a member of Rh. sanguineus species complex, characterized by a reddish-brown conscutum, angled basis capituli, and distinct genitalia, and further confirmed by molecular-based analysis using 16 S rDNA, cox1 and 12 S rDNA sequencing. The BLAST analysis for 16 S rDNA revealed 97.93–100% identity with Rh. sanguineus reported from Pakistan, followed by 96.12–97.4% identity with the sequences from neighboring countries. Furthermore, the 16 S rDNA sequence showed 99.63% identity with Rhipicephalus sp. morphotype III, 96.40-94.16% identity with Rh. linnaei, 96.40% with Rhipicephalus secundus, 94.77% with Rhipicephalus turanicus and 94.56% with Rh. turanicus. In the case of cox1 sequences showed 99.24–100% identity with Rh. sanguineus from Pakistan, followed by 98.86% identity with the sequences from neighboring countries. Whereas the cox1 sequence showed 89.58–92.23% identity with Rh. linnaei, 91.45% with Rh. secundus and 90.24–90.78% with Rh. turanicus. The 12 S rDNA sequence showed 99.59% and 99.36% maximum identity with Rhipicephalus sp. morphotype III, followed by 94.7% identity with Rh. turanicus, 94.53% with Rh. secundus, 93.09% with Rh. linnaei, and 91.4% with Rh. sanguineus. This study found no evidence of Rh. linnaei, and identified a distinct lineage of Rhipicephalus species, clustered with Rhipicephalus sp. III in clade I, within the Rh. sanguineus species complex from Pakistan. Further mitogenome and nuclear data are needed to clarify taxonomic status and genetic variability of Rhipicephalus species in the region. These findings have important implications for understanding the epidemiology of Rhipicephalus species complex.