Prevalence of Hard Ticks (Ixodidae) Infesting the long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in Sistan, Southeast of Iran

Hedgehogs are small and nocturnal mammals which have an important role in the transmission of zoonotic agents. The present study aimed to quantify and determine the diversity of hard ticks of long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) in urban and suburban parts of Sistan, Southeast Iran. A total of 54 hedgehogs were collected and different parts of the body were precisely examined for hard ticks. The isolated arthropods were fixed and preserved in 70% alcohol with 5% Glycerine. Then they were identified using morphological diagnostic keys. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to statistical analysis of the data and Statistical comparisons were carried out using SPSS 18.0 statistical software. The results indicated that Out of 54 hedgehogs 31 hedgehogs (57.4%) were infested with ticks. A total of 262 ticks were collected. The occurrence and diversity of ticks on hedgehogs was (67.56%) with Rhipicephalus turanicus and (32.44%) with Rh. sanguineus, respectively. The average number of ticks per hedgehog was estimated  at 8/45. The ratio of males was more than the female ticks (201 male and 61 female). Of 177 Rh. turanicus species 144 cases (81.36% ) were males and 33 ( 18.64 % ) were female and of  85 Rh.sanguineus ticks, 73 cases were male ( 85.88 % ) and 12 (14.12% ) were female. Fisher's exact tests showed that there Were no significant differences between the sex of these two species (P = 0.23). But results showed that the highest prevalence of hard ticks was in the ears (45.8%) and the lowest infection rates in the tail (8.8 %). Chi-square test revealed significant differences among the studied limbs (ear, head and neck , the back , the base of the tail) (P<0.001).The results of this study suggest that Hedgehogs are a suitable host for hard ticks and may play an important role in the transmission of diseases from one region to another and from wildlife animals to domestic animals and human. Considering the potential of these animals as a reservoir of zoonotic pathogens further studies are needed to investigate the hedgehog parasites in different parts of Iran.