title: First molecular detection of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine tick infestation of domestic ruminants and their infection to ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  About 425 domestic ruminants in Ghaemshahr city in northern Iran were inspected for tick infestations. Twenty tick specimens (13 females and 7 males) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (R. sanguineus), the most common tick in the study area, were tested by PCR amplification against 18s rRNA genome of Theileria spp using specie specific primers and then the PCR products were sequenced for species identification by comparison with data base available in GenBank.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 323 ticks were collected from 102 animals (88 sheep, 12 goats and 2 cattle). The prevalence of ticks infesting animals was R. sanguineus (82.35%), Rhipicephalus bursa (R. bursa) (0.3%), Ixodes ricinus (I. ricinus) (15.2%), Boophilus annulatus (B. annulatus) (1.2%), Haemaphysalis punctata (H. punctata) (0.3%) and Haemaphysalis numidiana (H. numidiana) (0.6%). Eleven (55%) tick specimens were PCR positive against genome of Theileria ovis (T. ovis). Sequence analysis of the PCR products confirmed presence of T. ovis in one R. sanguinus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first report of tick infection to T. ovis in Iran. Due to dominant prevalence of R. sanguineus as well as its infection to T. ovis, it is postulated this tick is the main vector of ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Telmadarraiy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zakkyeh
authors.forename: Oshaghi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mohammad Ali
authors.forename: Hosseini Vasoukolaei
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Nasibeh
authors.forename: Yaghoobi Ershadi
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Mohammad Reza
authors.forename: Babamahmoudi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farhang
authors.forename: Mohtarami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fatemeh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006041:Goats; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048508:Rhipicephalus sanguineus / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000662:veterinary; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks
chemical_list: D016053:RNA, Protozoan