Abstract
Hyalomma scupense, Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis punctata and Argas persicus have a broad distribution range across the Palearctic. However, their phylogenetic relationships are rarely reported. In this study, a total of 19,861 nymphs and adult ticks were collected from 41 sampling sites in 22 districts/cities across eight oblasts in the eastern, southern and western parts of Kazakhstan. Thirteen tick species, originated from 608 representative ticks, were identified. Regarding to Hy. scupense, I. persulcatus, Ha. punctata and A. persicus ticks from all sampling sites, 100 representative ticks were further phylogenetically analyzed based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The results showed that (i) Hy. scupense is the most widespread and abundant tick species in Kazakhstan, having ten haplotypes, of which one from East Kazakhstan was the progenitor of that from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR, northwestern China); (ii) I. persulcatus ticks from Almaty Oblast (eastern Kazakhstan), clustered with those from Burqin County (XUAR), were the progenitors of those from Japan; (iii) Ha. punctata specimens analyzed here had three distinct lineages, and the lineage in Almaty Oblast was originated from ticks reported in Visegrad (Hungary); and (iv) A. persicus ticks in Turkistan Oblast were the progenitors of ticks in Algeria and Egypt. These phylogenetic relationships indicate larger scale genetic exchange between populations of tick species that frequently associate with migratory birds (as exemplified by I. persulcatus and Ha. punctata) or are inadvertently transported with poultry during animal trading (i.e., A. persicus).