title: Species diversity and geographic distribution of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) infesting domestic ruminants, in Qazvin Province, Iran.
abstract: This report presents the results of the first faunistic study of hard ticks in Qazvin province of Iran. The primary objective was to determine the species diversity and geographic distribution of hard ticks that parasitize domestic ruminants. Information about the abiotic preferences of these species has been provided. A total of 286 cattle, 1,053 goats, and 2,050 sheep were examined in 13 villages in 28 flocks distributed throughout the studied areas. Total direct body collections of ticks were made from each domestic ruminant. A total of 228 Ixodid specimens belonging to nine species in three different genera were recorded in the areas, including Boophilus annulatus (Say, 1821), Hyalomma anatolicum Koch, 1844, Hyalomma asiaticum (Schulze and Schlettke, 1929), Hyalomma detritum Schulze, 1919, Hyalomma dromedarii Koch, 1844, Hyalomma marginatum Koch 1844, Hyalomma schulzei Olenev, 1931, Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini and Fanz, 1878 and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille, 1806). The most abundant species on sheep was R. sanguineus (46.92%), while B. annulatus (6.6%) found only on cattle. A finding of great significance was that R. sanguineus, the main vector of babesiosis, is firmly established throughout the counties. A further objective of the study was to compare the abundance of the major tick species on domestic ruminants. This was carried out at 19 sampling sites. The highest number of ticks was collected in July-August during the hot season.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. khadijehshemshad@gmail.com
authors.forename: Khadijeh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shemshad
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rafinejad
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.forename: Norayer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Piazak
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Sedaghat
authors.forename: Masoomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shemshad
authors.forename: Akbar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biglarian
authors.forename: Fathollah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nourolahi
authors.forename: Enshallah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valad Beigi
authors.forename: Ahmad Ali
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Enayati
mesh_terms: D000053:Acari / Q000145:classification*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology; D044822:Biodiversity; D002417:Cattle; D004478:Ectoparasitic Infestations / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006041:Goats; D007492:Iran; D058974:Phylogeography; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology*; D012756:Sheep