Ticks and associated pathogens infesting dogs in the JB Marks Local Municipality, South Africa. insect metagenome

This project identified bacterial communities harbored by two tick species (Haemaphysalis elliptica and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) infesting dogs in the Thlokwe Municipality. Samples were collected from stray and captive dogs at various locations within the Thlokwe Municipality. Collected tick specimens were dissected to remove the midgut and salivary glands. Next generation sequencing was then performed to determine the bacterial communities from adult ticks, midguts, salivary glands, and eggs from the two tick species.