title: Hard Tick Species of Livestock and their Bioecology in Golestan Province, North of Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A survey on tick species composition was carried out in Golestan Province Iran during year 2010-2011.The aim was to determine tick species parasitizing domestic ruminants and their seasonal population dynamics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 124 sheep, 92 goats, 84 cattle, 74 camels and 12 horses in several villages were inspected for tick infestation. The collected ticks preserved in 70% alcohol and then were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall 1059 ticks (453 female, 606 male) were collected. The ticks occur on sheep, goats, cattle, camels and horses as 72.1%, 77.3%, 75.8%, 69.3%, and 50% respectively. The frequency of ticks in spring was more than other seasons and the least was observed in winter. In the spring and summer, infestation rate in domestic ruminants were calculated as 100%. Six genus and fourteen hard and soft tick species were identified including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. bursa, Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis punctata, H. sulcata, H. erinacei, H. inermis, Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. asiaticum, Hy. dromedarii, Hy. excavatum, Hy. anatolicum, Hy. detritum, Boophilus annulatus and Argas persicus. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most abundant species in the study area. The largest number of ticks was collected from animal ears and tails. Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Boophilus occurred in mountainous, forest and plateau areas of Golestan Province but Ixodes occurred only in mountainous and forest areas, whereas Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma were present in coastal areas of Golestan Province.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this study is a survey on tick species from domestic animals in Iran and implication of possible prevention measures for diseases transmitted by ticks.
authors: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Aioub
authors: A
authors: Sofizadeh
authors: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Zakkyeh
authors: Z
authors: Telmadarraiy
authors: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Abbas
authors: A
authors: Rahnama
authors: Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Gorganli-Davaji
authors: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran.
authors: Asadollah
authors: A
authors: Hosseini-Chegeni
keywords: Bioecology; Domestic ruminants; Iran; Ticks
references: Korean J Parasitol. 2007 Dec;45(4):307-10
references: 18165714
references: Pak J Biol Sci. 2007 Dec 1;10(23):4315-8
references: 19086595
references: Korean J Parasitol. 2007 Jun;45(2):129-32
references: 17570976
references: Parasitol Res. 2007 Sep;101 Suppl 2:S175-7
references: 17823823
references: Iran J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2010;4(1):66-71
references: 22808391
references: Iran J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2010;4(2):56-60
references: 22808401
references: Iran J Arthropod Borne Dis. 2009;3(2):44-9
references: 22808381
references: Scand J Infect Dis. 2010;42(2):137-41
references: 19958240