Complete mitogenome of the giant panda tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and its phylogenetic implications

Abstract

Haemaphysalis longicornis (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is a common blood-feeding ectoparasite of the giant panda and poses significant health burden to wild and captive populations. In the present study, the complete mitogenome of the giant panda tick H. longicornis was sequenced using Illumina sequencing technology. The entire mitogenome was 14,706 bp in length and encoded 37 genes including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs and two ribosomal RNAs. Phylogeny showed that four isolates of H. longicornis, regardless of host origins or locations, clustered together and had a closer relationship with Haemaphysalis hystricis than other Haemaphysalis species among the subfamily Haemaphysalinae of Ixodidae. The cumulative mitochondrial DNA resources provide insights into genetic and phylogenetic studies of Haemaphysalis ticks.

Keywords:

• Giant pandas
• Haemaphysalis longicornis
• mitogenome
• phylogenetic relationships

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in GenBank of NCBI at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, reference number MT780294.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Project of Key Open Laboratory of Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in Giant Panda National Park, State Forestry and Grassland Administration [No. KLSFGAGP2020.014], Fund Program for the Scientific Activities of Selected Returned Overseas Professionals in Sichuan Province [No. 2020721] and Giant Panda International Project [No. GH201708].