# Molecular study of Rickettsia species in ticks and blood collected from hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and tortoises (Testudo graeca) in Iran

## TL;DR

This study investigates Rickettsia in ticks and blood from hedgehogs and tortoises in Iran, finding infected ticks but no Rickettsia in the blood.

## Contribution

The study provides new molecular evidence of Rickettsia in ticks from hedgehogs and tortoises in Iran.

## Key findings

- Rickettsia DNA was detected in ticks, with the highest prevalence in R. turanicus.
- No Rickettsia was found in the blood samples from hedgehogs or tortoises.
- Hedgehogs and tortoises are confirmed as hosts for Rickettsia-infected ticks.

## Abstract

The family Rickettsiaceae, especially the genus Rickettsia, refers to obligate intracellular pathogens responsible for zoonotic diseases such as rickettsiosis. Primarily transmitted through arthropod vectors such as ticks, fleas, and lice, they pose serious concerns for both public health and veterinary fields.

This study is conducted in northwestern Iran to investigate ticks collected from European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca), with specific focus on the molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. In Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus tick species. Due to their ecological distribution and proximity to human habitats, hedgehogs and tortoises are important hosts for the maintenance and spread of these pathogens. A total of 106 ticks and 31 blood samples were collected from hedgehogs, while 234 ticks and 87 blood samples were collected from tortoises. Hedgehog blood sampling was performed directly from the heart under deep anesthesia to minimize stress, ensuring full recovery before release; tortoise blood was collected randomly under sterile conditions. All specimens were transferred to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Urmia. Overall, 339 tick samples and 118 blood samples were tested. Rickettsia DNA was detected using Real-time PCR (16S rRNA gene) and conventional PCR (gltA gene) in tick species including H. aegyptium, R. sanguineus, R. turanicus, and R. bursa. The highest prevalence was observed in R. turanicus. None of the blood samples were positive for Rickettsia.

These results confirm the role of hedgehogs and tortoises as hosts for Rickettsia-infected ticks and underscore the need for further molecular studies and expanded wildlife surveillance for better assessment of the zoonotic risk.