MOLECULAR INVESTIGATION OF SOME BACTERIA (COXİELLA BURNETİİ, MYCOPLASMA HAEMOCANİS, CANDİDATUS MYCOPLASMA HAEMATOPARVUM, WOLBACHİA) IN RHIPICEPHALUS SANGUINEUS TICKS IN SIIRT PROVINCE, TURKEY

Ticks harbor the largest diversity of microorganisms, ranging from viruses, prokaryotes, and eukaryotes. Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks are the most common ticks worldwide. Although dogs are the main host of this tick species, it has been reported that it also infests humans in various parts of the world. This study aimed to examine some bacteria ( Coxiella burnetii , Mycoplasma haemocanis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, Wolbachia) in Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks sampled from dogs. In this study, 350 tick samples collected from 85 dogs in Siirt province were determined to be Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Coxiella DNA was detected in 3 (0.85%) out of 350 ticks using Nested PCR (687 base pairs). None of the samples were found to contain Mycoplasma haemocanis , Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum, and Wolbachia DNA. A partial sequence of the IS 1111 gene region was registered in GenBank with OM472143 accession numbers. Considering the zoonotic nature of the Q disease, it is very important for dog owners and related institutions to periodically spray animals against ticks, and to take any other necessary precautions. More samples are needed to determine the Mhc, CMhp, and Wolbachia prevalence.