Similarities Between and Genomes and Horizontal Gene Transfer from Their Endosymbionts

The taxa and are sympatric in Tunisia. The genetics underlying their morphological differences are unresolved. In this study, ticks collected in Jouza-Amdoun, Tunisia, were morphologically identified and sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Three complete genome assemblies of and three of with BUSCO scores of ∼98% were generated, including the reconstruction of mitochondrial genomes and separation of both alleles of the TRPA1, TROSPA and calreticulin genes. Deep sequencing allowed the first descriptions of complete bacterial genomes for " Midichloria mitochondrii", and from North Africa, and the discovery of extensive integration of parts of the and ". M. mitochondrii" into the nuclear genome of these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial genome, the nuclear genes, and symbionts showed differentiation between Tunisian and Dutch ticks, but high genetic similarities between Tunisian and . Subtraction of the genome assemblies identified the presence of some unique sequences, which could not be confirmed when screening a larger batch of and ticks using PCR. Our findings yield compelling evidence that is genetically highly similar, if not identical, to sympatric Defined morphological differences might be caused by extrinsic factors such as micro-climatic conditions or bloodmeal composition. Our findings support the existence of different lineages of as well of its symbionts/pathogens from geographically dispersed locations.