Molecular characterization and phylogenetic insight of cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus from subtropical mountainous terrain of Meghalaya, India

MEENA  DAS; NAMPHER  MASHARING; RAKESH  KUMAR; MUN MUN  MAKRI

doi:10.56093/ijans.v95i7.168328

Authors

MEENA DAS ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India
NAMPHER MASHARING ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India
RAKESH KUMAR ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar 800 014
MUN MUN MAKRI ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya 793 103, India

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v95i7.168328

Keywords:

COXI gene, Meghalaya, Molecular characterization, Rhipicephalus microplus

Abstract

The present study intended to investigate the prevalence, molecular characterization, and phylogenetic perspectives of cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus from Meghalaya’s sub-tropical mountainous terrain. From April 2022 to December 2023, 539 ticks were collected from Holstein-Friesian (62) and Jersey (28) crossbred cattle of about one year age from Umling and Umsning blocks of Ri Bhoi district, Meghalaya. Ticks were identified morphologically, and haemoprotozoan parasites were detected by staining thin blood smears with Giemsa stain. The overall incidence of R. microplus tick infestation was 11.36% in crossbred cattle, 25.80% in Holstein Friesian crosses and 14.28% in Jersey crosses. Indigenous cattle breed unaffected by R. microplus tick infestation. Babesia bigemina infection was detected in merely 9.37% of Umiam’s crossbred (Holstein Friesian) cattle. Tick mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) genome amplification by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) revealed 713bp band size. Sequencing and BLAST analysis of mitochondrial COX1 gene confirmed R. microplus isolate from Umiam, Meghalaya (OR830443.1). Mitochondrial COX1 gene of R. microplus isolates from Pakistan (OP379525.1), Bangladesh (MG459962.1), Myanmar (MG459964.1) and China (OQ547218.1, OR083275.1) shared 99.63 to 100% nucleotide homology with the mitochondrial COX1 gene of R. microplus isolate from Umiam, Meghalaya (OR830443.1). A close genetic relationship of R. microplus isolates from Meghalaya, North East India with those from the Northern state, Haryana and Southern state, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was observed. This report may be considered to be the first work on the genomic description and phylogenetic insight about R. microplus in cattle from sub-tropical mountainous terrain of Meghalaya, India which will be useful in developing strategies for the management and control of R. microplus tick in the region.

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