Influence of farm composition and management on the microbiome of the camel tick (Hyalomma dromedarii)

Ticks are obligate ectoparasites and important disease vectors. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hyalomma dromedarii ticks impact the health of camels. This study investigates the effects of farm animal composition and tick management practices on the microbiome of the camel tick (H. dromedarii) in the UAE. We aimed to assess the cumulative microbiome of this tick by analyzing partially-fed adult females. Ticks were collected from monospecific farms (rearing only camels) and polyspecific farms (rearing camels alongside other animal species), as well as from managed farms (where camels are treated with acaricides) and unmanaged farms (no acaricide treatment), across four locations per farm type. DNA was extracted, and 16S rDNA sequencing was performed for microbial profiling. Differences were observed in the microbiome composition between ticks collected from monospecific and polyspecific farms and between those collected from managed and unmanaged farms. The findings of this study are exploratory, providing a baseline for future research. Overall, this work advances current understanding of the H. dromedarii microbiome and underscores its relevance to the One Health approach.