A survey of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infestation on equids in Sardasht suburb, Iran

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 Sardasht suburb, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. A total of 240 equids (123 horses, 105 Mules, 12 donkeys) were randomly selected and examined from winter 2017 to winter 2018. The ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. Of all examined equids, 27.92% horses, 11.25% Mules and 2.1% donkeys were infested with a total number of 524 ixodid ticks. 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 524 collected ixodid ticks, tick indices (tick number per animal) were 2.18. Of all examined ticks (524), three genera including Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus spp .and Dermacentor spp. with four species. i.e. Hyalomma anatolicum (67.74%), H. marginatum (8.01%), Rhipicephalus bursa (21.94%) and Dermacentor marginatus (2.29%) were identified. Ixodid ticks’ infestations occured throughout the year with the highest prevalence in spring (74.42%). 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, which further studies to investigate the potential tick vectors involved in the transmission of heamoparasites in equids in the region.