A survey of hard tick’s infestation in equids of‏ ‏Turkman sahra, Northeast of Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. of Veterinary Parasitology,, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary ‎Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azarbaijan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, ‎Urmia, West Azarbaijan, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, West Azarbaijan, Iran

Abstract

Ticks are important ectoparasites in equids which causes economic losses in animal husbandry of Iran and worldwide. This study was aimed to determine frequency and species diversity of hard ticks in equids in Turkman sahra, Iran. 240 equids were randomly selected and examined from 2018-2019. Ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. Of all examined equids, 37.91% horses, and 4.16% donkeys were infested with a total number of 357 ixodid ticks. Tick indices (tick number per animal) were 3.53.  The highest prevalence of hard ticks was found in ≥3 years-old equids in the region. There was significant difference between prevalence and different age groups of infested animals. Of all examined ticks (357), three genera including Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. with four species. i.e. Hyalomma anatolicum (65.26%), H. marginatum (10.64%), Rhipicephalus bursa (22.12%) and Dermacentor marginatus (1.96%) were identified. Ixodid ticks’ infestations occured throughout the year with the highest prevalence in spring. There was significant difference between prevalence of hard ticks and seasons in this study. The results revealed that species diversity and ixodid ticks’ infestations were prevalent in the equids of Turkman sahra, Iran.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 52, Issue 2
September 2021
Pages 117-122

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History

  • Receive Date: 31 March 2021
  • Revise Date: 11 May 2021
  • Accept Date: 23 May 2021

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