Morphological and molecular identification of Hyalomma ticks in Kazakhstan reveals new regional records of H. dromedarii, H. rufipes, and H. asiaticum.

BACKGROUND: Ticks of the genus Hyalomma are among the most important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals in arid and semi-arid regions of Eurasia. Recent environmental changes, including climate warming, increasing aridity, and livestock movements, may influence the distribution of Hyalomma species into previously unrecorded areas. However, information on the current distribution of these ticks in Kazakhstan remains incomplete. METHODS: Field surveys were conducted in the Turkestan, Abai, and East Kazakhstan regions of Kazakhstan in 2024. A total of 137 tick specimens were collected from domestic animals and grouped into 47 pools. Tick species were identified using morphological characteristics and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene sequencing. Species identification was confirmed by BLAST analysis against GenBank reference sequences and phylogenetic reconstruction using the Maximum-Likelihood method. RESULTS: Morphological examination revealed the presence of Hyalomma asiaticum, H. turanicum, H. dromedarii, H. rufipes, and Dermacentor marginatus. Molecular analysis confirmed the identification of representative specimens of H. dromedarii, H. rufipes, and H. asiaticum, showing 100%, 99.8%, and 99.7% nucleotide identity, respectively, with corresponding GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic analysis grouped all samples within their respective species clades. Based on currently available published data, the study provides the first molecularly confirmed regional records of H. dromedarii and H. rufipes in the Turkestan region and the first molecularly confirmed regional record of H. asiaticum in East Kazakhstan region. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new documented distribution records for several Hyalomma species in Kazakhstan and improve current knowledge of their geographic occurrence. Continued surveillance will be necessary to determine whether these records represent recent range expansion or previously undocumented populations.