Mitogenomics of the tropical bont tick Amblyomma variegatum reveals vertical and horizontal transmission of Rickettsia africae.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The tropical bont tick Amblyomma variegatum, which is widespread in Africa and the Caribbean islands, is of both medical and veterinary importance as the principal vector of intracellular bacterial pathogens Ehrlichia ruminantium, causing heartwater in animals, and Rickettsia africae, causing African tick bite fever (ATBF) in humans. This tick species is highly invasive and has been reported to expand its geographical distribution as well as host range. Rickettsia africae is also recognized as a common endosymbiont in A. variegatum, but its transmission dynamics within this tick population remain poorly understood.

Methodology

To investigate the co-phylogenetic patterns between A. variegatum and R. africae, we sequenced the complete mitogenomes of A. variegatum an

SUBMITTER: Chatanga E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12551961 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature