Gut microbiome of Amblyomma helvolum (Koch, 1844) parasitizing Xenochrophis trianguligerus

During a faunal survey in Great Nicobar Island, we collected four Amblyomma helvolum ticks infesting on the snake Xenochrophis trianguligerus and processed for gut-metagenomic analysis using Illumina paired end sequencing. This study represents the first metagenomic characterization of A. helvolum from India and provides baseline data on reptile tick associated microbial diversity from Great Nicobar Island. The findings underscore the importance of molecular surveillance in remote ecosystems and highlight the potential of reptile ticks as reservoirs of opportunistic and zoonotic bacteria.