title: Population dynamics of multiple symbionts in the hard tick, Dermacentor silvarum Olenev (Acari: Ixodidae).
abstract: Previously, we reported that Coxiella-like, Rickettsia-like and Arsenophonus-like symbionts could simultaneously coexist in Dermacentor silvarum. In this study, we examined their burdens and population dynamics in a single host during the host life cycle using quantitative PCR. Our results showed that multiple symbionts exhibited different abundances and varying trends in the tick host. Coxiella-like and Rickettsia-like symbionts were found at high densities in large quantities that fluctuated with time. This may coincide with oogenesis and mating of the host. Our findings provide insight into symbiont-tick interactions that lay the foundation for future studies.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050024, PR China.
authors.forename: Limeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050024, PR China.
authors.forename: Lingxia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050024, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiannan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050024, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei Medical University, No. 361 Zhongshan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050017, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, No. 20 Nanerhuan Eastern Road, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050024, PR China. Electronic address: liujingze@mail.hebtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jingze
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003870:Dermacentor / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial
keywords: Co-infection; Population dynamics; Reproduction of ticks; Symbionts