Author/Authors :
Banafshi, Omid Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Hanafi-Bojd, Ahmad Ali Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Karimi, Mohamad Zoonoses Research Center - Kurdistan University of Medical Science, Sanandaj, Iran , Faghihi, Faezeh Cellular and Molecular Research Center - Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Beik-Mohammadi, Mojtaba Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control - Faculty of Health - Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran , Gholami, Sahere Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Javaherizadeh, Siavash Facalty of Paramedical Science - Clinical Laboratory Science - Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Branch, Tehran, Iran , Edalat, Hamideh Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Vatandoost, Hassan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Telmadarraiy, Zakkyeh Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Since ticks are potent vectors of various diseases, identification of these species are clinically im-portant to protect the public health and control veterinary problems in the communities. We aimed to figure out the frequency of ticks on cows, goats, sheep, lambs, turtles and also obscure hosts in Kurdistan Province, bordered with Iraq June 2012 to May 2013.
Methods: The hosts were selected randomly and examined individually for tick infestation. In case of infestation, ticks were collected using forceps and then preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol. All collected specimens were preserved in tubes and relative information was recorded and then identified based on morphological characteristics.
Results: Totally, 1209 ticks were collected. The prevalence of ticks on cows, sheep, goats, lambs, turtles, poultry and obscure hosts was 11.33%, 55.41%, 6.53%, 5.95%, 0.9%, 8.02% and 11.82% respectively. The mean number of ticks on each animal was 1.6. Number of 5 genera, including Rhipicephalus, Argas, Ornithodoros, Hyalomma and Haem-aphysalis and 9 species; including R. sanguineus (60.05%), R. bursa (0.08), Hy. anatolicum (12.33), Hy. asiaticum (1.49), Hy. aegyptium (0.91), Hy. marginatum (0.08), Haemaphysalis parva (4.22), Hyalomma sp. (0.99), Orni-thodoros lahorensis (11.83), and Argas persicus (8.02) were identified.
Conclusion: The most abundant species in this study area was Rh. sanguineus (60.05%). Due to high prevalence of tick specimens and a variety of collected species from sheep (55.41%), the vaccination of sheep and control of tick vectors are recommended.
Keywords :
Tick , Ruminants , Turtle , Iran
