Ixodes ricinus microbial changes by artificial tick feeding with and without gentamicin

Ticks are hematophagous ectoparasites that harbor a number of pathogens and symbionts. In this study, we examined the microbiome composition of unfed Ixodes ricinus females previously reared by artificial membrane feeding technique with gentamicin (IVG+) and without gentamicin (IVG-) supplementation to the blood meal in comparison to ticks fed in vivo on cattle (C).Therefore, DNA extracted from individual, whole, unfed female ticks was analyzed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing (V3-V4).