Under the scales: Identification of ticks in rehabilitated African pangolins and confiscated scales

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals globally. Beyond zoonotic concerns related to coronavirus, pangolins serve as hosts for ectoparasites such as ticks, which can be inadvertently transported through illegal wildlife trade and rehabilitation efforts. The transcontinental trafficking of pangolins and their derivatives poses a potential risk of pathogen spillover affecting humans, wildlife, and livestock. Despite these concerns, data on tick infestations in confiscated African pangolins and scales remain scarce. This study aims to identify tick species associated with confiscated pangolins and scales using morphological and molecular approaches. A total of 275 ticks were collected from 17 rehabilitated African pangolins (Smutsia temminckii, Phataginus tricuspis, Phataginus tetradactylus) and nine bags of seized scales. Representative specimens (n = 53) were genetically analyzed by amplifying the 16S rRNA fragment and comparing sequences with publicly available data. Morphological identification revealed five tick species: Amblyomma compressum, A. hebraeum, Ornithodoros compactus, Rhipicephalus theileri, and R. simus. Taxonomic assignments conformed with the DNA-based identification for all species except for ‘O. compactus’ which resulted in O. moubata. These discrepancies may be due to overlapping morphological characters between the two Ornithodoros species. Notably, ticks from the three identified genera are known vectors of pathogens causing diseases such as heartwater, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, theileriosis, African swine fever, and human relapsing fever. We provide the first record of A. hebraeum in Phataginus species, and A. compressum in P. tetradactyla, expanding their host range. This study also establishes a baseline for tick diversity in confiscated African pangolins and scales trafficked within Africa and out of Africa. The findings highlight the importance of integrative taxonomic approaches in tick identification and emphasize the need for further research incorporating additional genetic markers and morphometric analyses to enhance species resolution.