Abstract: Objective To investigate the major tick species, their distribution, and the natural infection rate of tick-borne pathogens in Hoxud county of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Methods Tick samples were collected by flagging method and ectoparasites check, followed by detection of pathogens with PCR. Results A total of 367 ticks belonging to 4 species, 3 genera of the Ixodidae family were collected from six places in this region. Hyalomma asiaticum accounted for 47.41% of the samples (174/367), and Rhipicephalus pumilio 37.60% (138/367). Hence these two are the prodominant species in this area. The specific DNA sequences of 3 kinds of tick-borne pathogens were then detected using PCR amplification. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that the sequences share high homology with the sequences of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) in GenBank databases. Among the tick samples, 18 ticks were detected with Lyme disease borrelia, with a positive rate of 4.90%; four ticks were with A. phagocytophilum, with positive rate of 1.09%. Eleven ticks were positive with SFGR accounting for 3.00% of the samples. Conclusion The natural infection pathogens of Lyme disease, Human granulocytic anaplasmosis and spotted fever were detected in ticks from Hoxud county.

Key words: Hoxud county of Xinjiang, Tick, Tick-borne pathogen

摘要： 目的 调查新疆和硕地区主要蜱的种类、种群分布及蜱媒病原体的自然感染情况。方法 采用布旗法和动物体表检查法采集蜱标本,采用PCR方法进行病原检测。结果 从和硕地区清水河农场、乌什塔拉乡、乃仁克尔乡、曲惠乡、塔哈其乡和新塔热乡共采集蜱367只,分属3属4种;其中亚洲璃眼蜱占47.41%(174/367),短小扇头蜱占37.60%(138/367),为当地优势蜱种;经PCR扩增出3种蜱媒病原体的特异性DNA片段,比对显示与莱姆病伯氏疏螺旋体、嗜吞噬细胞无形体以及斑点热群立克次体有高度同源性;莱姆病螺旋体检出18个阳性,阳性率为4.90%;嗜吞噬细胞无形体检出4个阳性,阳性率为1.09%;斑点热群立克次体检出11个阳性,阳性率为3.00%。结论 和硕地区蜱中存在莱姆病、人粒细胞无形体病以及斑点热的病原体感染。

关键词: 新疆和硕地区, 蜱类, 蜱媒病原体