Comparative metagenomic profiling of microbial pathogen diversity in Haemaphysalis longicornis and Hyalomma dromedarii ticks.

Ticks are globally important vectors of human and animal pathogens. This study characterized microbial communities in Haemaphysalis longicornis (from humid Zhangjiachuan County) and Hyalomma dromedarii (from arid Minqin County, Gansu Province, China) using metagenomic sequencing. We identified diverse bacteria and viruses including known pathogens (Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Totivirus spp., Escherichia spp.) and potentially novel agents (Totivirus-like and Trachysalambria curvirostris-associated sequences). These results highlight the role of these tick species in pathogen transmission across different environments and emphasize the need for region-specific surveillance. Our findings contribute to the understanding of tick-borne disease risks and inform strategies for targeted control.