Metagenomic insights into pathogen diversity and public health risk of Haemaphysalis longicornis in Gansu Province of China
- 1State Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- 2Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Disease and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
Abstract
The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis vectors numerous zoonotic pathogens, yet its pathogen diversity and associated spatial health risks are not fully characterized. To profile this vector, we performed metagenomic sequencing on 290 H. longicornis ticks across 29 sites in Gansu Province, China. We resolved 25 bacterial and one protozoan genera, with computational analyses revealing population-level distribution patterns and identifying environmental factors as key drivers of spatial variation.We detected marker genes associated with 12 pathogenic microorganisms. Alongside established threats (Rickettsia conorii, R. rickettsii, Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella novicida), we additionally identified several pathogens not previously reported in this vector, including Candidatus Bartonella merieuxii, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Moraxella atlantae, Pseudomonas alabamensis, and Trypanosoma spp. Furthermore, four potentially novel strains were identified within R. conorii, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter pseudolwoffii. Spatial Bayesian risk modeling localized the highest exposure risks to the Linxia, Zhangye, and Wuwei regions. The tick microbiome contained 31 clinically prioritized antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), many of which co-localized with mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Overall, these findings reveal the diversity of pathogens associated with H. longicornis and their public health relevance, supporting future efforts in disease surveillance and risk assessment. Author summary: Ticks can carry microorganisms that affect human and animal health, but the diversity of these microorganisms in Haemaphysalis longicornis remains poorly characterized in northwestern China. We collected 290 ticks from 29 locations in Gansu Province and used DNA-based screening to investigate microorganisms of possible medical or veterinary relevance and antibiotic resistance genes. We detected DNA from 12 potentially important microorganisms. Several detections may represent the first records in this tick species, and four divergent genetic lineages require further taxonomic investigation. Detection patterns differed among locations and were statistically associated with local environmental variables. Spatial analyses highlighted Linxia, Zhangye, and Wuwei as priorities for additional sampling and surveillance. We also identified 31 types of antibiotic resistance genes. Some occurred on the same DNA fragments as putative mobile genetic elements, suggesting, but not demonstrating, the potential mobility of these resistance genes. These results provide a baseline for understanding tick-associated microorganisms and resistance genes in Gansu Province. The findings also highlight specific microorganisms and locations that warrant further investigation through larger-scale surveys and targeted laboratory confirmation.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026metagenomic,
title = {{Metagenomic insights into pathogen diversity and public health risk of Haemaphysalis longicornis in Gansu Province of China}},
author = {Biao Yang and Qiaoyun Ren and Junwei Wang and Xinxin Zhang and Hong Yin and Jinming Wang and Guiquan Guan},
journal = {PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pntd.0014713},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014713},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Metagenomic insights into pathogen diversity and public health risk of Haemaphysalis longicornis in Gansu Province of China
AU - Biao Yang
AU - Qiaoyun Ren
AU - Junwei Wang
AU - Xinxin Zhang
AU - Hong Yin
AU - Jinming Wang
AU - Guiquan Guan
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/15
JO - PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases
DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0014713
UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0014713
AB - The tick Haemaphysalis longicornis vectors numerous zoonotic pathogens, yet its pathogen diversity and associated spatial health risks are not fully characterized. To profile this vector, we performed metagenomic sequencing on 290 H. longicornis ticks across 29 sites in Gansu Province, China. We resolved 25 bacterial and one protozoan genera, with computational analyses revealing population-level distribution patterns and identifying environmental factors as key drivers of spatial variation.We detected marker genes associated with 12 pathogenic microorganisms. Alongside established threats (Rickettsia conorii, R. rickettsii, Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella novicida), we additionally identified several pathogens not previously reported in this vector, including Candidatus Bartonella merieuxii, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Moraxella atlantae, Pseudomonas alabamensis, and Trypanosoma spp. Furthermore, four potentially novel strains were identified within R. conorii, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter pseudolwoffii. Spatial Bayesian risk modeling localized the highest exposure risks to the Linxia, Zhangye, and Wuwei regions. The tick microbiome contained 31 clinically prioritized antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), many of which co-localized with mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Overall, these findings reveal the diversity of pathogens associated with H. longicornis and their public health relevance, supporting future efforts in disease surveillance and risk assessment. Author summary: Ticks can carry microorganisms that affect human and animal health, but the diversity of these microorganisms in Haemaphysalis longicornis remains poorly characterized in northwestern China. We collected 290 ticks from 29 locations in Gansu Province and used DNA-based screening to investigate microorganisms of possible medical or veterinary relevance and antibiotic resistance genes. We detected DNA from 12 potentially important microorganisms. Several detections may represent the first records in this tick species, and four divergent genetic lineages require further taxonomic investigation. Detection patterns differed among locations and were statistically associated with local environmental variables. Spatial analyses highlighted Linxia, Zhangye, and Wuwei as priorities for additional sampling and surveillance. We also identified 31 types of antibiotic resistance genes. Some occurred on the same DNA fragments as putative mobile genetic elements, suggesting, but not demonstrating, the potential mobility of these resistance genes. These results provide a baseline for understanding tick-associated microorganisms and resistance genes in Gansu Province. The findings also highlight specific microorganisms and locations that warrant further investigation through larger-scale surveys and targeted laboratory confirmation.
SN - 1935-2735
ER -