The complete mitochondrial genome of Hyalomma rufipes (Acari: Ixodidae) from China and comparative analysis of mitogenomes in genus Hyalomma

The coarse-legged tick Hyalomma rufipes (Koch, 1844), a two-host tick and an important vector for multiple pathogens, can cause severe damage to humans and domestic animals. Here, we provide the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of H. rufipes from China obtained by next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods. The 14,761 bp long mitogenome of H. rufipes had a high A + T content (79.7%) and contained a typical set of 37 genes, with 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The genome also included two control regions (CRs) and three tick-boxes. We compared the mitogenomes of H. rufipes from China and South Africa. The results showed that the gene arrangement, CRs location, and incomplete secondary structures of trnC and trnS(1) were similar. However, several differences presented in the two isolates, including the gene length and the termination codons of PCGs. Also, the comparison of the mitogenomes of Hyalomma species revealed differences in genome length, A + T content, and initiation and termination codons. Furthermore, gene rearrangement existed in the tick mitogenomes, with a unique arrangement in Amblyomma transversale. Additionally, our phylogenetic analyses clearly clarified the phylogenetic relationships within ticks, H. rufipes being clustered with other Hyalomma species and more closely related to H. marginatum.