Maphuti Betty Ledwaba, Nozipho Khumalo, Charles Byaruhanga, S Marcus Makgabo, Tshegofatso Mashaba, Marinda C Oosthuizen, Deon Bakkes, Mamohale Chaisi
Ticks are known vectors of pathogens affecting animals and humans globally. However, there are gaps in knowledge regarding the diversity of ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) affecting wildlife in South Africa. This study aimed to determine the occurrence, diversity, and distribution of ticks and TBPs in cheetahs and lions from different localities in South Africa using morphological and molecular techniques. Thirty-three blood samples and 94 ticks were opportunistically collected from 30 cheetahs and four lions in 12 conservation facilities. DNA was extracted from 88 ticks and 33 blood samples. Six tick specimens were submitted to the Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum as reference vouchers. The CO1 and 16S rRNA genes were targeted for tick identification, while the 18S rRNA gene was targeted for the identification and characterisation of Apicomplexan parasites (Babesia, Theileria, Hepatozoon spp.). Nine species belonging to the genera Amblyomma, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus were identified, with Haemaphysalis elliptica (59/94; 62.8%) identified as the most abundant species. Sequencing results for the CO1 and 16S rRNA genes were consistent with the morphological identification, except the CO1 sequence of FEL 09dT, which was morphologically identified as R. afranicus, but clustered between the reference sequences of R. linnaei and R. turanicus. Analysis of the 18S rRNA sequences from host blood and ticks revealed 98-100% similarity with published sequences of Babesia lengau, Hepatozoon felis, Hepatozoon ingwe, Hepatozoon luiperdjie, and uncharacterized Babesia and Hepatozoon species. This study demonstrates that wild carnivores in South Africa harbour diverse tick species and TBPs, most of which have unknown host range, transmission, and pathogenicity. Therefore, further studies are crucial to unravel the risk they may pose to the ecosystem.