Microbial composition in Hyalomma anatolicum collected from livestock in the United Arab Emirates using next-generation sequencing

Abstract

Background Hyalomma anatolicum is a widely distributed tick species that acts as a vector transmitting tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in livestock. Such pathogens affect the health of livestock and consequently reduce their productivity. Knowledge about the microbial communities (pathogens and endosymbionts) of ticks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is scarce. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to quantify microbial diversity in H. anatolicum using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology. Methods Hyalomma anatolicum ticks were collected from livestock in the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE during 2019. DNA was extracted from 175 male ticks sampled from livestock (n = 78) and subjected to NGS. The 16S rRNA gene was analyzed using the Illumina MiSeq platform to determine the bacterial communities. Principal coordinates analysis (PCA) was performed to identify patterns of diversity in the bacterial communities. Results Twenty-six bacterial families with high relative abundance were identified, of which the most common were Staphylococcaceae, Francisellaceae, Corynebacteriaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Moraxellaceae, Bacillaceae, Halomonadaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Enterococcaceae, Actinomycetaceae and Streptococcaceae. The diversity of the microbial communities in terms of richness and evenness was different at the three study locations, with the PCA showing clear clusters separating the microbial communities in ticks collected at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. The presence of bacterial families harboring pathogenic genera showed that H. anatolicum could pose a potential threat to livestock and food security in the UAE. Conclusions The study is the first to document important data on the microbial communities associated with H. anatolicum in the UAE. This knowledge will facilitate a better understanding of the distribution pattern of microbes in livestock ticks in the UAE and, ultimately, will aid in deciphering the relationships between microbes and in the exploration of potential factors towards developing effective management strategies. Graphical Abstract

Assessing Temporal Changes in Microbial Communities in Hyalomma dromedarii Collected From Camels in the UAE Using High-Throughput Sequencing

“…Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Francisella , and Corynebacterium were the most common genera in all months, and the results were a little different from the results of our previous finding where Acinetobacter and Corynebacterium were the most common genera in 2010 and Francisella in 2019 ( 22 ). Focusing on Francisella , the sequences have already been detected in all studies on H. dromedarii and a study on Hyalomma anatolicum characterizing microbial composition in the MENA region ( 22 , 33 – 35 , 49 ). In the present study, Francisella was detected with high relative abundance in September followed by April and October.…”

Dynamics of the Gut Bacteriome During a Laboratory Adaptation Process of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Ceratitis capitata

“…In contrast, it had previously been reported as persistent in a mass rearing colony and a wild population of Anagyrus vladimiri but with low abundance (<1%) (Izraeli et al, 2021 ). However, higher abundance of Carnimonas (32%) was recently identified in Hyalomma anatolicum ticks; meanwhile, the authors suggested a negative association between Klebsiella and Carnimonas (Perveen et al, 2022 ). So far, little is known about the role of Carnimonas .…”