Genetic diversity of African ticks (Amblyomma compressum) recapitulates genetic population origins of pangolin host (Phataginus tricuspis) from Asian seizures
- 1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Center for Tropical Research, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
- 3Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hong Kong, China
Abstract
Background: Ectoparasites maintain close associations with their hosts and can complement host genetics data in studies aimed at identifying wildlife trafficking routes, source populations, and whether trafficked individuals are wild-caught or captive-bred. Despite this association, ectoparasites are rarely incorporated into wildlife forensic investigations. Using ticks from Asian seizures of white–bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) scales, we investigated ectoparasite-host associations by comparing tick genetic diversity to pangolin genetic populations of origin.
Results: We successfully genotyped 34 tick samples – identified as Amblyomma compressum – from 27 white–bellied pangolin scales, from eight seizures in Hong Kong, all originating from Africa. Tick haplotypes were mapped using estimated geographic coordinates assigned to pangolin scales through SNP-based genotyping, enabling assessment of tick haplotype diversity and distribution across the species’ range. Our study suggests concordance between tick genetic diversity and corresponding pangolin genetic clusters but not purported seizure origins. Ticks exhibited intra-specific variation within and between pangolin genetic clusters, based on the number of haplotypes identified (within pangolin genetic clusters) and observed spatial clustering (between pangolin genetic clusters).
Conclusions: These findings enhance our understanding of pangolin–tick associations at the population level and demonstrate that ectoparasites from trafficked wildlife can serve as valuable biological tags. When integrated with host population genetics, they provide additional insight into geographic origin and host health, thereby strengthening tools available for conservation and wildlife crime investigations.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-026-02563-3.
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BibTeX
@article{barrett2026genetic,
title = {{Genetic diversity of African ticks (Amblyomma compressum) recapitulates genetic population origins of pangolin host (Phataginus tricuspis) from Asian seizures}},
author = {Taneisha A. Barrett and Tracey-Leigh Prigge and Jen Tinsman and Thomas B. Smith and Liz Rose-Jeffreys and Gary Ades and Timothy C. Bonebrake},
journal = {BMC Ecology and Evolution},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12862-026-02563-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-026-02563-3},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Genetic diversity of African ticks (Amblyomma compressum) recapitulates genetic population origins of pangolin host (Phataginus tricuspis) from Asian seizures
AU - Taneisha A. Barrett
AU - Tracey-Leigh Prigge
AU - Jen Tinsman
AU - Thomas B. Smith
AU - Liz Rose-Jeffreys
AU - Gary Ades
AU - Timothy C. Bonebrake
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/29
JO - BMC Ecology and Evolution
DO - 10.1186/s12862-026-02563-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-026-02563-3
AB - Background: Ectoparasites maintain close associations with their hosts and can complement host genetics data in studies aimed at identifying wildlife trafficking routes, source populations, and whether trafficked individuals are wild-caught or captive-bred. Despite this association, ectoparasites are rarely incorporated into wildlife forensic investigations. Using ticks from Asian seizures of white–bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) scales, we investigated ectoparasite-host associations by comparing tick genetic diversity to pangolin genetic populations of origin. Results: We successfully genotyped 34 tick samples – identified as Amblyomma compressum – from 27 white–bellied pangolin scales, from eight seizures in Hong Kong, all originating from Africa. Tick haplotypes were mapped using estimated geographic coordinates assigned to pangolin scales through SNP-based genotyping, enabling assessment of tick haplotype diversity and distribution across the species’ range. Our study suggests concordance between tick genetic diversity and corresponding pangolin genetic clusters but not purported seizure origins. Ticks exhibited intra-specific variation within and between pangolin genetic clusters, based on the number of haplotypes identified (within pangolin genetic clusters) and observed spatial clustering (between pangolin genetic clusters). Conclusions: These findings enhance our understanding of pangolin–tick associations at the population level and demonstrate that ectoparasites from trafficked wildlife can serve as valuable biological tags. When integrated with host population genetics, they provide additional insight into geographic origin and host health, thereby strengthening tools available for conservation and wildlife crime investigations. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-026-02563-3.
SN - 2730-7182
ER -