Molecular detection of diverse pathogens in Ixodes persulcatus ticks parasitizing Takydromus amurensis in Heilongjiang Province, China

This study reports the first documented case of the hard tick Ixodes persulcatus parasitizing lizards of Takydromus amurensis in Heilongjiang Province of China, and characterizes the common tick-borne bacteria and protozoa pathogens carried by these ticks using molecular approaches. DNA extracted from six tick samples collected from T. amurensis was subjected to PCR amplification and sequencing of the tick mitochondrial COI gene and pathogen-specific markers, including gltA for spotted fever group Rickettsia, 16S rRNA for Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Coxiella, rpoB for Bartonella, 18S rRNA for Babesia, Theileria, and Hepatozoon, and cytb for Cytauxzoon. All six ticks were morphologically and molecularly identified as Ixodes persulcatus. Pathogen screening revealed a high prevalence of Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae (5/6, 83.3%) and Anaplasma platys (3/6, 50%). In addition, Bartonella washoensis and Cytauxzoon manul were detected (1/6, 16.7%). In contrast, screening for Ehrlichia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. yielded negative results across all six ticks. These findings represent a previously unreported tick–lizard ecological association and confirm the presence of diverse pathogens in ticks parasitizing lizards. This study provides preliminary evidence for understanding the transmission cycles of tick-borne pathogens in specialized ecosystems and underscores the importance of including reptilian hosts in surveillance frameworks.