This study investigates two parasitic reptile ticks — Bothriocroton hydrosauri and Amblyomma limbatum — of the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) that abut at a 1–2 km wide parapatric boundary in South Australia. Long‐term research has investigated potential mechanisms to explain the maintenance of this boundary but has not uncovered why the distribution of A. limbatum does not extend further south. It has been previously hypothesised that pathogens may be responsible for maintaining parapatric boundaries. Rickettsia spp. has previously been reported in B. hydrosauri ticks. This study explored whether Rickettsia spp. occurs in co‐occurring A. limbatum. We observed that Rickettsia spp. was absent from all A. limbatum ticks and that 83% of examined B. hydrosauri were found to be positive with a spotted fever group Rickettsia strain. This study puts forward the hypothesis that Rickettsia spp. could contribute to the maintenance of the Mt Mary parapatric boundary between these two tick species. Further work is required to determine whether Rickettsia spp. can be transmitted from B. hydrosauri to A. limbatum and — if transmission can occur — to explore whether Rickettsia is lethal to A. limbatum ticks.

中文翻译：

---

提出一个新假设：立克次体属。作为维持两种澳大利亚爬行动物蜱种之间辅助的机制

这项研究调查了靠近南澳大利亚 1-2 公里宽的旁系边界的困蜥蜴 (Tiliqua rugosa) 的两种寄生爬行动物蜱 - Bothriocroton hydrosauri 和 Amblyommalimatum。长期研究已经调查了解释该边界维持的潜在机制，但没有发现为什么 A.limbatum 的分布没有进一步向南延伸。先前已经假设病原体可能负责维持旁系边界。立克次体 以前曾在 B. hydrosauri 蜱中报道过。这项研究探讨了立克次体是否存在。发生在同时发生的 A.limbatum 中。我们观察到立克次体属。在所有 A.limatumt 蜱中均不存在，并且发现 83% 的被检查的 B.hydrosauri 对斑点热组立克次体菌株呈阳性。本研究提出立克次体属的假说。可能有助于维持这两种蜱种之间的 Mt Mary parapatric 边界。需要进一步的工作来确定立克次体是否。可以从水龙 B. 传播到 A.limatum 并且 - 如果可以发生传播 - 探索立克次体是否对 A.limatum 蜱是致命的。