Molecular Survey of Tick-Borne Pathogens Reveals Diversity and Novel Organisms With Veterinary and Public Health Significance in Wildlife From a National Nature Reserve of China

Wildlife is involved in the maintenance and transmission of various tick-borne pathogens. The objective of the present study was to determine the occurrence and diversity of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wild animals collected from Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve of China. Blood or liver samples from 13 wild animals (5 takin, 3 Himalayan goral, 3 Reeves' muntjac, 1 forest musk deer, and 1 wild boar) were collected and screened for piroplasm, spp., spp., and spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae by PCR-based on different gene loci. Three species, a potential novel parasite ( sp. T4) and two species were identified in those wildlife. was found in Himalayan goral, Reeves' muntjac, and forest musk deer; , and a potential novel, parasite ( sp. T4), were identified in takin. Meanwhile, was identified in Himalayan goral, takin, Reeves' muntjac, forest musk deer, and wild boar; and related strains was found in takin, Reeves' muntjac, and forest musk deer. All wildlife included in this study was negative for , and SFG rickettsiae. Moreover, coinfection involving spp. and spp. was observed in eight wild animals. This study provided the first evidence of tick-borne pathogens in free-ranging wild animals from the nature reserve, where contact between domestic and wild animals rarely occurs.