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Member Symposium

The Microbiome of Acari through Art, Science, and Culture On-Demand Presentations

Microbial communities in Hyalomma ticks in the UAE: Current understanding and future directions

On-Demand

Presenting Author(s)

Mohammad Ali Al-Deeb

Professor
United Arab Emirates University
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Co-author(s)

NP

Nighat Perveen

United Arab Emirates University
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
SB

Sabir Bin Muzaffar

United Arab Emirates University
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
RV

Ranjit Vijayan

United Arab Emirates University
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Animals are attacked by several species of Hyalomma ticks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Some of those species are vectors of zoonotic diseases that pose threats to human and animal health. In one of our studies, we documented the presence of H. dromedarii on camels throughout an entire year, which shows a continuous risk of tick-borne diseases. We used 16S rRNA gene‑based analysis to study the microbial communities in H. dromedarii and H. anatolicum. In H. dromedarii, we detected 25 bacterial families with a high relative abundance and particularly the Moraxellaceae and Francisellaceae. Francisella was a very dominant genus compared to the other genera. Also, we found SFG Rickettsia in those ticks. In H. anatolicum, we detected 26 bacterial families where Francisellaceae, Staphylococcaceae, and Corynebacteriaceae were among the most dominant ones. Furthermore, we found Theileria annulata in H. anatolicum ticks collected from cows, whereas Theileria ovis was found in the ticks collected from goats. The current understanding and the future directions of research on the microbial communities associated with Hyalomma ticks in the UAE will be discussed and relevant recommendations will be provided.