Rickettsiae in red fox (Vulpes vulpes), marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna) and their ticks in northwestern China

Abstract Background Previously, twelve Rickettsia species were identified in ticks, fleas, sheep keds ( Melophagus ovinus ), bats Pipistrellus pipistrellus ) and a tick-bitten patient the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) northwestern China. Here we aimed to molecularly detect rickettsial agents red fox Vulpes vulpes marbled polecat Vormela peregusna their ticks. Methods During 2018–2019, 12 foxes, one ticks sampled two counties city of XUAR. The heart, liver, spleen, lung kidney these 13 carnivores dissected, followed by DNA extraction. Hard both morphologically molecularly. All samples examined for presence rickettsiae amplifying four genetic markers 17-kDa, gltA, ompA, sca1 ). Results A total 26 adult 28 nymphs (38 Ixodes canisuga , nine kaiseri six Haemaphysalis erinacei Dermacentor marginatus collected from Ha. removed polecat. Analysis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I COI gene sequences indicated that 2–32 nucleotides differed between I. China Europe. raoultii was detected three Candidatus barbariae fox, sibirica polecat, R. tick D . Conclusions To best our knowledge, have not been previously reported foxes first time organs This is also molecular evidence Our findings expand range tick-borne pathogens wildlife associated Graphical