The present study identified 881 specimens of the ticks found on about 2000 domestic sheep in Niğde Province. During this investigation, Argasidae (Ornithodoros (Alveonasus) lahorensis) and eight Ixodidae species of (Dermacentor (Serdjukovia) marginatus, D. (S.) niveus, Haemaphysalis (Haemaphysalis) concinna, H. (Alloceraea) inermis, H. (Segalia) parva, H. (Aboimisalis) punctata, H. (Herpetobia) sulcata, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus) were determined. The distribution at the genera level of the samples are as follows: Haemaphysalis 73.2 %, Ornithodoros 16.1 %, Dermacentor 10.2 %, and Rhipicephalus 0.45 %. H. sulcata was the most common species with 256 specimens(29.1 %), and H. concinna was the rarest species with only one specimen (0.1 %). D. niveus was recorded for the first time from Niğde Province. Besides, the seasonality and taxonomic status of the recorded species are discussed in the current article.

Ticks can harbor complex and highly variable microbial communities. Among these microorganisms, there are important pathogens of humans and animals that can be transmitted through the blood meal. Less is known about the other members of the microbial community of Ixodida, those that do not cause overt diseases. Among these, Midichloria mitochondrii, symbiont of the tick Ixodes ricinus, is the first described member of the family Midichloriaceae, order Rickettsiales. This bacterium is present in 100% females and is vertically transmitted (Sassera, 2008). The possibility of horizontal transmission is suggested by serological and molecular analyses showing positivity of mammalian blood and sera to M. mitochondrii (Mariconti, 2012; Bazzocchi, 2013). However, its role is still unknown. Recent reports are expanding the view of this family, now including bacteria of great biological and medical interest, indicating a widespread distribution with an increasing range of hosts, with ticks being strongly represented (Epis, 2008). Here we present a molecular screening of 17 tick species (for a total of 92 individuals), detecting and quantifying bacteria closely related to M. mitochondrii in seven of them, including the first report of a midichloriacea in a soft tick species, Ornithodoros maritimus. Based on sequence identity and phylogenetic analysis we propose that these bacteria could constitute the genus Midichloria. The performed screening highlights different prevalence levels in different tick species including one, Ixodes aulacodi, where the bacteria is present in all examined individuals, like in I. ricinus. This result prompts us to hypothesize different roles of Midichloria bacteria in different tick species.

The genus Ornithodoros is worldwide distributed and features 113 known species. However, some species are rare and collections are scarce. The present paper expands the known distribution of two species of soft ticks, O. rondoniensis and O. marinkellei , by about 1400 km to the east, in caves in two municipal districts in the state of Para, northern Brazil. These species were previously known only from the western Brazilian Amazon. Furthermore, some morphological details and molecular analysis are shown.

The cave tick, Ornithodoros tholozani is the most important soft tick in central Asia and the Middle East. The populations of this species live in human buildings and animal shelters and are responsible for transmission of relapsing fever in different areas. Residual spraying of pesticides is a common control measure against this species, and vast regions of north west of Iran are sprayed annually with pyrethroids by the local residents. Application of limited range of acaricides and similarity in their mode of actions might contribute to emergenence of resistance, and decline of their efficacy. Thus, this research was conducted to identify the susceptibility level of different populations of this tick to some pesticides in old, well-known foci of relapsing fever. Populations of this tick were collected from animal shelters of Mahneshan, Khodabandeh, Tekab and Bijar districts in north west of Iran during 2012–2013. Adult ticks were exposed to different doses of permethrin, lambdacyhalothrin and carbaryl through topical and residual methods and mortality rate was measured after 24 hours. The bioassay revealed different levels of tolerance to permethrin in various populations of O. tholozani in the study area. The Bijar strain was susceptible and the LD50 and LC50 values for permethrin were 48.38 ng/tick and 96.98 µg/cm2 respectively. Tekab, Khodabandeh and Mahneshan populations were resistant and resistance value in this group was 2. The Bijar strain was also susceptible to lambdacyhalothrin and LD50 value for this compound was 8.37 ng/tick. In spite of the susceptibility to pyrethroids in Bijar strain, there was high resistance level to carbaryl and the LD50 value was 5.45 mg/tick. Since different levels of resistance to permethrin were observed in various populations of O. tholozani, reviewing and refining the control measures against ticks, applying new formulations of acaricide mixtures and monitoring the susceptibility level of acaricides seem necessary in these regions. Moreover, future studies to identify the molecular characteristics of resistance to acaricides and determining the effective acaricide are highly recommended in these areas.

ABSTRACT In preliminary experiments Ornithodoros tholozani (Laboulbene & Megnin, 1882) showed positive olfactory response to mammals, birds and reptiles, but not to amphibians. Preference was observed for mice. Vibration of soil proved not to stimulate initiation of movement. Strong light (100 W bulb) repelled ticks whereas weak light (80 W) attracted them. No influence of red light was witnessed. The ticks showed preference for high humidity (80%) but were unable to distinguish between relative humidities of 80% and 70%. Temperature preference range of the 3rd instar ticks was shown to be between 20° and 28°C.

To investigate the distribution, species, seasonal fluctuation of ticks and detect new bunyavirus in some hematophagus in the endemic areas of fever thrombocytopenia and leukopenia syndrome (FTLS) in Henan province. From March to December 2011, the free ticks were collected manually with white cloth from the grassland and the parasitic ticks were collected from the host skin by hand searching in Xinyang and Jiyuan. The density and seasonal fluctuation of ticks were analyzed after classification of the specimen. The hematophagus were collected including gadfly (38 in 16 groups), cattle lice (224 in 16 groups), mosquitoes (238 in 17 groups) and ticks (825 in 77 groups), then RNA of new bunyavirus were detected by RT-PCR. A total of 12 388 ticks were collected in Xinyang and Jiyuan, consisting of 2 families, 5 geniuses and 6 species. In Xinyang city, 622 ticks were identified, consisting of 2 families, 3 geniuses and 3 species, including 2 (0.32%) Ornithodoros lahorensis, 451 (72.51%) Haemaphysalis longicornis and 117 (18.81%) Boophilus microplus. In Jiyuan city, 11 766 ticks were identified, consisting of 1 family, 4 geniuses and 5 species, including 7718 (65.60%) Haemaphysalis longicornis, 164 (1.39%) H.anatolicum anatolicum and 710 (6.03%) other ticks such as H. detritum, Boophilus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Haemaphysalis longicornis were found in both districts as the predominant species in Henan province. Ticks were active from March to October. The average density was 160 per person hour and the peak was from May to July with density 278, 209 and 542 per person hour respectively. The results was positive in RNA detection of new bunyavirus in 11 groups of tick and 3 groups of gadfly by RT-PCR. The results were negative in all other hematophagus. Ornithodoros lahorensis, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Boophilus microplus, H.anatolicum anatolicum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and H. detritum were found in Henan province. Haemaphysalis longicornis was the predominant species. The density of ticks varied with the seasons. The detection of new bunyavirus by PCR was positive in some ticks and gadflies.

Relapsing fever is endemic in some parts of the world such as Africa, South America, and Far East.1-3 Epidemics have occurred among refugees and war victims in some parts of Africa.4,5 There is very little information about this infection in Saudi Arabia. The prevalence or incidence in Saudi Arabia is unknown. Its apparent rarity may be due to under diagnosis and under reporting. A high index of suspicion in appropriate clinical situations will lead to its early recognition and treatment. Relapsing fever is an acute febrile illness caused by blood spirochetes belonging to genus borrelia. This spirochete can be acquired through the bite of an infected soft tick (Ornithodoros species) or contact with the hemolymph of an infected human body louse (Pediculus humanus) and thus constituting two types of relapsing fever (RF) depending upon the responsible vector i.e. Tick – borne relapsing fever (TBRF) and Louse – borne relapsing fever (LBRF). It is characterized by recurrent cycles of pyrexia which are separated by intervals of apparent recovery. During pyrexia, organisms can be found in blood and that is the only way of reliable diagnosis in many situations.6,7 While during afebrile period, organisms hide themselves in spleen, liver and even central nervous system.

The ticks reported in Paraguay, which are here reviewed, can be categorized as 'endemic or established' (Argas persicus or a sibling species, Ornithodoros hasei, O. rostratus, O. rudis, O. talaje/O. puertoricensis, Amblyomma aureolatum, Am. auricularium, Am. brasiliense, Am. cajennense, Am. calcaratum, Am. coelebs, Am. dissimile, Am. dubitatum, Am. incisum, Am. longirostre, Am. nodosum, Am. ovale, Am. pacae, Am. parvum, Am. pseudoconcolor, Am. rotundatum, Am. scutatum, Am. tigrinum, Am. triste, Dermacentor nitens, Haemaphysalis juxtakochi, H. leporispalustris, Ixodes loricatus, Rhipicephalus microplus, and Rh. sanguineus), 'probably endemic or established' (Ar. miniatus, Ar. monachus, Am. argentinae, Am. humerale, Am. naponense, Am. oblongoguttatum, Am. pseudoparvum, I. aragaoi/I. pararicinus, I. auritulus, I. luciae), or 'erroneously reported from Paraguay' (O. coriaceus, Am. americanum and Am. maculatum). Most Paraguayan tick collections have been made in the Chaco phyto-geographical domain, in the central part of the country. Argas persicus or a related species, Am. cajennense, D. nitens, Rh. microplus and Rh. sanguineus are important parasites of domestic animals. Ornithodoros rudis, Am. aureolatum, Am. brasiliense, Am. cajennense, Am. coelebs, Am. incisum, Am. ovale and Am. tigrinum have all been collected from humans. In terms of public health, the collections of Am. cajennense and Am. triste from humans may be particularly significant, as these species are potential vectors of Rickettsia rickettsii and Ri. parkeri, respectively.

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) is caused by borrelia spirochetes and is transmitted by the bites of infected ornithodoros ticks. These soft-bodied ticks inhabit caves, rodent burrows, and rustic dwellings in many parts of the world. Noting the effectiveness of doxycycline prophylaxis in preventing Lyme disease, researchers in Israel assessed the efficacy …

Transmission of Dipetalonema viteae by Hyperparasitism in Ornithodorus tartakovskyi

Described as new, from larvae only, are: Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) casebeeri from the rodent, Ototylomys sp., in Costa Rica; O. (A.) chironectes from water opossum, Chironectcs minimus, and cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus griseus, in Nicaragua; O. (A.) clarki from bats, Pteronotus davyi fulvus and P. suapurensis, in Nicaragua; O. (A.) knoxjonesi from bat, Balantiopteryx p. plicata, in Nicaragua; O. (A.) marmosae from murine opossum, Marmosa robinsoni, and mouse, Rhipidomys sp., in Venezuela and Colombia; O. (A.) tiptoni from bat, Noctilio leporinus, from Venezuela and O. (A.) tuttlei from paca, Agouti paca, and tapir, Tapirus terrestris, in Venezuela. In addition, the following species described by Kohls, Clifford, and Jones are now placed in the subgenus Alectorobius: O. setosus, O. eptesicus, O. peruvianus, O. peropteryx, O. mimon, and O. echimys.

Females of the soft tick Ornithodorus moubata were fed artificially on blood meals of varying ionic and osmotic compositions. Chloride and sodium were actively transported from gut to hemolymph. Potassium ions may have been actively transported from hemolymph to gut or passively distributed across a gut epithelium of low permeability. Water movement across the gut was dependent on the total sodium and chloride transported and on the osmotic pressure difference across the gut wall. Constant sodium chloride concentrations and osmotic pressures were maintained in the hemolymph when ticks were fed meals of differing compositions provided these meals were isosmotic with normal blood. Otherwise the osmotic pressure of the hemolymph paralleled that of the meal. The following evidence led me to conclude that the coxal fluid was produced by ultrafiltration. The coxal gland never produced fluid which was hypertonic to the hemolymph. Inulin showed a coxal fluid: hemolymph ratio of unity over a wide range of inulin concentrations in the hemolymph. Hydrostatic pressure in the hemolymph increased during coxal fluid production and the rate of production was pressure sensitive. The site of ultrafiltration was demonstrated v/hen fluorescein-labelled albumin was trapped in the thin membraneous structure enveloping the tubular part of the gland. The ultra-structure of this membrane was very similar to that of other tissues engaged in filtration. Sodium was actively reabsorbed and chloride moved passively down an electropotential gradient across the resorption tubule of the coxal gland. Potassium was actively transported from hemolymph to resorption cells and passively diffused into the coxal fluid. There was some resorptive capacity for amino acids but they were not regulated to the same degree as inorganic ions. The ultrastructure of the resorption cells was typical of that found in cells engaged in ion and water transport.

Potentiality of Ornithodoros moubata Murray (Acarina, Argasidae) as a reservoirvector of West Nile Virus.

Infestation of Raptorials by Ornithodoros aquilae

On 9. 1. 1928, Mrs R. A. Neuman of Ransomville, N.Y., sent me a tick for identification, stating that it was a kind of “bug” with which she was not familiar and that it was occasionally found on the walls of her home. She collected in all about six specimens, but sent me only one, which proved to be an Ornithodorus talaje (Guérin-Méneville), my identification having been since confirmed by Professor Nuttall and Mr Warburton.