Fauna of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and their seasonal infestation rate on Camelus dromedarius (Mammalia: Camelidae) in Masileh region, Qom province, Iran

Abstract

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are obligatory blood feeders and important external parasites of wildlife, domestic animals and humans in tropical and subtropical areas. Ticks primarily transmit different pathogenic organisms to livestock and humans, and secondly harm their animal hosts by decreasing blood protein content and nutrients due to partial exsanguinations, induce allergic reaction and sometimes cause tick paralysis or toxicosis. In this study, ticks have been collected from different body parts of stable kept male and female camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) in monthly intervals from late April 2012 to late March 2013 in Masileh region of Qom province, Iran. All tick have been collected and identified according to male individual characters. Totally, 1265 ticks (42.5% and 57.4% from stable male and female camels respectively) have been collected. Tick identification based on male characters revealed Hyalomma dromedarii (40.7%), H. schulzei (40.3%) and H. marginatum (18.8%). Heavy camel infestation by H. schulzei was recorded for the first time from central part of Iran . Different tick infestation rates were recorded during June and January, from zero to 254 ticks. The highest mean number of collected ticks was 9.6 under tail of female camels among five body places during August. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between the number of collected ticks and sampling intervals, sex of camels and place of camel bodies. Out of five camel body places, ticks were collected regularly from four body parts. Periodical infestation by H. dromedarii under tail, belly, thigh and neck of both camel sexes was found to be longer than for H. schulzei and H. marginatum . It could be concluded that any control measure for camel tick infestation should be planned before March-April in Masileh region of Qom, Iran.