Objective To gain insight into the natural infection of rickettsiales in ticks from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region(XUAR)and to develop strategies for the prevention and control of tick-borne diseases.Methods A total of 7 105 adult ticks representing 12 species in seven genera were collected via hand scratching on hosts and flag-sweeping on vegetation in XJUAR,China.These samples were submitted for screening of rickettsiales infection by amplifying the outer membrane protein(ompA)gene and 16S rRNA.Results A total of 3 650 ticks were subjected to molecular analysis,with eight rickettsiae species identified as agents of the spotted fever group(SFG).Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae was initially discovered in Rhipicephalus,Hyalomma,and Haemaphysalis ticks and subsequently distributed across Hoxud,Yuli,Manas,and Huocheng cities.Furthermore,seven additional pathogenic rickettsiae species were identified,including R.conorii,R.massiliae,R.raoultii,R.slovaca,R.sibirica mongolotimonae and Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae.Conclusion The presence of multiple-spotted fever group rickettsia species and the diseases they cause may represent a potential threat to human health at XJUA in China.