Molecular Detection and Characterization of Zoonotic and Veterinary Pathogens in Ticks from Northeastern China.

Tick-borne diseases are considered as emerging infectious diseases in humans and animals in China. In this study, ( = 1699), ( = 412), ( = 390), ( = 253), and ( = 204) ticks were collected by flagging from northeastern China, and detected for infection with , , , and spp. by using nested polymerase chain reaction assays and sequencing analysis. was detected in all tick species, i.e., (9.4%), (1.9%), (6.5%), (1.7%), and (2.3%); was detected in (0.3%) and (0.2%); was detected in (2.5%) and (0.2%); Neoehrlichia mikurensis was only detected in (0.4%). The variant (GenBank access number KU921424), closely related to , was found in (0.8%) and (0.2%). was infected with (1.2%), (0.6%), and (0.6%). Additionally, four sequence variants (GenBank access numbers 862303-862306) were detected in , , and , which belonged to the clusters formed by the parasites of dogs, sheep, and cattle (, , and ). Two spp. (GenBank access numbers KX016028 and KX016029) associated with hepatozoonosis in Japanese martens were found in the collected ticks (0.1-3.1%). These findings showed the genetic variability of , , , and spp. circulating in ticks in northeastern China, highlighting the necessity for further research of these tick-associated pathogens and their role in human and animal diseases.