Molecular screening of tick-borne pathogens in host-seeking Haemaphysalis punctata Canestrini & Fanzago, 1878 (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) in Anatolia with the first report of Burana virus

This study provides the first systematic assessment of TBPs in host-seeking H. punctata in Türkiye and documents, for the first time in this species, the presence of Burana virus, Candidatus R. yenbekshikazakhensis, T. orientalis, and C. burnetii. The findings highlight H. punctata as an underrecognized but epidemiologically relevant tick species in Anatolia and reveal previously undocumented microorganism circulation, with important implications for surveillance of emerging viral and zoonotic threats.