Objective To study the characteristics of tick-borne pathogenic populations using 16S rDNA full-length sequencing and laboratory test data, and to provide a basis for pathogen control. Methods Fifty ticks were selected from the dominant tick species in Qi county, Shanxi province, China. Whole genome DNA was extracted after morphological and genetic identification. The species and taxonomic abundance of microorganisms in ticks were analyzed using 16S rDNA full-length high-throughput sequencing on the PacBio platform. According to the 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the specific genes of tick-borne pathogens were identified by PCR for a comprehensive analysis of tick-borne pathogens. Results The 16S rDNA full-length sequencing analysis showed that all the 50 ticks carried Coxiella burnetii and Pseudomonas, 8 ticks carried Anaplasma phagocytophilum, some ticks carried Rickettsia and Ehrlichia (only identified at the genus level), and Borrelia was not detected. The PCR results showed that C. endosymbiont, Borrelia burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi, and spotted fever group rickettsia were detected in 50 ticks. Conclusion High-throughput 16S rDNA full-length sequencing can simultaneously detect a variety of pathogens and identify the main tick-borne pathogens in the area, though some pathogens are identified at the genus level, which requires combination with pathogen-specific tests for comprehensive detection of tick-borne pathogens in the area.
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