Coxiellaceae in Ticks from Human, Domestic and Wild Hosts from Sardinia, Italy: High Diversity of Coxiella-like Endosymbionts

Coxiella burnetii is known for its potential as veterinary and human bacterial pathogen. The bacteria have been described in ticks, but their role transmission of Q fever humans considered low. endosymbionts closely related to C. also isolated from an extensive range tick species evidence growing that these could be linked bacteremia. aim this study was get new information on the presence ticks infesting wild domestic hosts Sardinia, Italy. Here, 138 collected area were analyzed Coxiella-like by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing philogenetic analyses using a set primers targeting 16S rRNA gene. DNA detected 69% total examined. Based phylogenetic analysis, genotypes identified grouped strongly supported monophyletic clades with reference sequences CLEs Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis Ornithodoros strains worldwide. This reports molecular detection high diversity Sardinian confirms previously island. play vertebrate needs explored further.