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Proposing a new hypothesis: Rickettsia spp. as a mechanism maintaining parapatry between two Australian reptile tick species

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dc.contributor.authorStaines, M.
dc.contributor.authorBradford, T.
dc.contributor.authorGraves, S.R.
dc.contributor.authorBull, S.
dc.contributor.authorGardner, M.G.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractThis study investigates two parasitic reptile ticks — Bothriocroton hydrosauri and Amblyomma limbatum — of the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) that abut at a 1–2 km wide parapatric boundary in South Australia. Long-term research has investigated potential mechanisms to explain the maintenance of this boundary but has not uncovered why the distribution of A. limbatum does not extend further south. It has been previously hypothesised that pathogens may be responsible for maintaining parapatric boundaries. Rickettsia spp. has previously been reported in B. hydrosauri ticks. This study explored whether Rickettsia spp. occurs in co-occurring A. limbatum. We observed that Rickettsia spp. was absent from all A. limbatum ticks and that 83% of examined B. hydrosauri were found to be positive with a spotted fever group Rickettsia strain. This study puts forward the hypothesis that Rickettsia spp. could contribute to the maintenance of the Mt Mary parapatric boundary between these two tick species. Further work is required to determine whether Rickettsia spp. can be transmitted from B. hydrosauri to A. limbatum and — if transmission can occur — to explore whether Rickettsia is lethal to A. limbatum ticks.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMorgan Staines, Tessa Bradford, Stephen R. Graves, Simon Bull, Michael G. Gardner
dc.identifier.citationAustral Ecology, 2020; 45(4):488-492
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/aec.12897
dc.identifier.issn1442-9985
dc.identifier.issn1442-9993
dc.identifier.orcidBradford, T. [0000-0003-0607-1398]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/131855
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP200102880
dc.rights© 2020 Ecological Society of Australia
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/aec.12897
dc.titleProposing a new hypothesis: Rickettsia spp. as a mechanism maintaining parapatry between two Australian reptile tick species
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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