Molecular Evidence of Rickettsia conorii subsp. raoultii and Rickettsia felis in Haemaphysalis intermedia Ticks in Sirumalai, Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu, South India

Rickettsia is an important pathogenic entity among tick-borne diseases (TBD), which are considered serious emerging public health problems globally. In India, though the widespread distribution of ticks and TBD has been documented, its real burden remains underreported. a preliminary attempt, rickettsial surveillance was carried out in collected from Sirumalai, Eastern Ghats Tamil Nadu, India by using pathogen genome-based phylogenetic inferences generated through multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), targeting genes 16s rRNA, OmpA, OmpB, gltA nested PCR. The laboratory evidence confirms circulation Haemaphysalis intermedia species this area. Analysis four gene sequences detected demonstrates their closest identity to spotted fever group (SFG) available GenBank database. Further, multiple alignment with other derived database showed close relatedness conorii subsp. raoultii (16s rDNA-99.32%, OmpA-93.38%, OmpB-97.39%, gltA-98.57%) felis rDNA 99.54%, OmpA-100%, OmpB-100% gltA-99.41%). With genomic evidence, pathogens pools H. infesting livestock Sirumalai foothill area demonstrated complement microscopic identification tick species, DNA barcodes were for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Nevertheless, R. found be aetiological agents lymphadenopathy flea-borne human cases, respectively, further study on determination diversity, distribution, clinical relevance, potential risk local community these areas highly warranted.