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

The coarse-legged tick <i>Hyalomma rufipes</i> (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 <i>H. rufipes</i> from China obtained by next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods. The 14,761 bp long mitogenome of <i>H. rufipes</i> 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 <i>H. rufipes</i> from China and South Africa. The results showed that the gene arrangement, CRs location, and incomplete secondary structures of <i>trnC</i> and <i>trnS₁</i> 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 <i>Hyalomma</i> 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 <i>Amblyomma transversale</i>. Additionally, our phylogenetic analyses clearly clarified the phylogenetic relationships within ticks, <i>H. rufipes</i> being clustered with other <i>Hyalomma</i> species and more closely related to <i>H. marginatum</i>.