In collaboration with Payame Noor University and Iranian Society of Physiology and Pharmacology

Document Type : Article

Authors

1 Board Certified Practitioner, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shehrekord, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shehrekord, Iran

3 DVM, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shehrekord, Iran

4 Laboratory expert, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shehrekord, Ira

Abstract

Abstract
Ticks, as usual groups of ecto-parasites, have abundant importance in medicine due to their ability in conservation and transmission of important pathogens like zoonotic pathogens. They choose different species as host including; mammals, reptiles and birds. Hedgehog, a mammal species which is related to humans and animals, can be infested by ticks. Aim of current study is identification and description of ticks fauna in native hedgehogs located in central parts of Iran. Six hedgehogs were collected from rural areas in Najafabad (Isfahan province) and 10 ticks were collected from different part of their bodies in examination. Ticks were temporary preserved in solution contained 95% Etanol 70° plus 5% glycerin and then were cleared via KOH, mounted and observed by light microscope and their identifications were confirmed via wallker tick systematic keys. Ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalusturanicus and Haemaphysalis concinna. This study reports the hedgehog's infestation by Haemaphysalis concinna for the first time in Iran. Recognition of new hosts for ticks and dimension of their dispersion are first steps in order to solve their problems. Presence of ticks on new hosts and their resistance against pesticides are also important subjects that must be considered more than past.

Keywords

Babos S.; (1965). Kullancsok-Ixodidea. Fauna Hungariae; 18: 1-38.
Bian, Y.; Yang, G.; Wang, T.; Sun, J.; Li, K.; (2011). Haemaphysalis concinna (Acari: Ixodida): persistent efficacy of selamectin in Angora rabbits under laboratory conditions. Parasitol Res.; 3: 879-883.
Bowman, A.; Nuttall, P.; (2008). Ticks Biology, Disease and Control: New York, Cambridge University Press; 506-508.
Chinikar, S.; Ghiasi, S.M.; Ghalyanchi-Langeroudi, A.; Goya, M.M.; Shirzadi, M.R.; Zeinali, M.; (2009). An overview of Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Iran. Iranian J Micromiol; 1: 7-12.
Colak, E.; Yigit, N.; Sozn, M.; (1998). A Study on the Long-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin, 1770) (Mammalia: Insectivora) in Turkey. Turk J Zool; 22: 131-136.
Estrada-Pena, A.; Bouattour, A.; Camicas, J.L.; Walker, A.R.; (2004). Ticks of Domestic Animals in the Mediterranean Region: A Guide to Identification of Species. Zaragoza: University of Zaragoza; 7-137.
Fernandez-Salasa, A.; Rodriguez-Vivasb, R.I.; Alonso-Diaza, M.A.; (2012). First report of a Rhipicephalus microplus tick population multi-resistant to acaricides and ivermectin in the Mexican tropics. Vet Parasitol; 183: 338-342.
Foldvaria, G.; Ringo, K.; Jablomzkya, M.; Biro, N.; Majorosa, G.; Molnar, V.; (2011). Ticks and the city: Ectoparasites of the Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) in an urban park. Ticks Tick Borne Dis; 2: 231-234.
Gyuranecz, M.; Rigo, K.; Dan, A.; Foldvari, G.; Makrai, L.; Denes, B.; et al.; (2011). Investigation of the Ecology of Francisella tularensis during an Inter-Epizootic Period. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis; 8: 1031-1035.
Hassel, A.; (2003). Ectoparazite of lizards and possibel vector: mammal hard tick Haemaphysalis concinna Koch, 1844. Herpetozoa; 16: 86-88.
Hoogstraal, H.; Kaiser, M.N.; (1958). The ticks (Ixodoidea) of Egypt: A brief review and keys. J Egypt Public Health Assoc; 33: 51-85.
Imamura, S.; Konnai, S.; Da Silva Vaz, I.J.; Yamada, S.; Nakajima, C.; Ito, Y.; et al.; (2008). Effects of anti-tick cocktail vaccine against Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. Jpn J Vet Res; 56: 85-98.
Jongejan, F.; Ullenberg, G.; (2004). The global importance of ticks. Parasitol; 129: 3-14.
Khaldi, M.; Socolovschi, C.; Benyettou, M.; Barech, G.; Biche, M.; Kernif, T.; et al.; (2011). Rickettsiae in arthropods collected from the North African Hedgehog (Atelerix algirus) and the desert hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in Algeria. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis.; 10: 1016-1022.
Mazlum, Z.; (1971). Iranian tick's fauna, geographical distribution, seasonality and their hosts. Lett Vet Coll Tehran Uni.; 2(1): 1-3.
Mohamadi, S.; Farahi, M.; Gangali, M.; Koohkan, S.H.; (2011). Road-kill mortality of large eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus from zabol, East-South of Iran. Eur. J. Biol. Sci.; 3: 99-101.
Riley, P.; Chomel, B.; (2005). Hedgehog Zoonoses. Emerg Infect Dis.; 1: 1-5.
Rahbari, S.; Nabian, S.; Shayan, P.; Haddadzadeh, H.R.; (2007). Status of Haemaphysalis tick infestation in domestic ruminants in Iran. Korean J Parasitol; 2: 129-132.
Sun, Y.; Xu, R.; (2003). Ability of Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Dermacentor silvarum ticks to acquire and transstastadially transmit Borrelia garrinii. Exp AppAcarol; 31: 151-160.
Tekin, S.; Bursali, A.; Mutluay, N.; Dundar, E.; (2012). Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in various ixodid tick species from a highly endemic area. Vet Parasit; 186: 546-552.
Walker, A.R.; (2003). Ticks of domestic animals in Africa: a guide to identification of species: Edinburgh, Bioscience Reports; 3-210.
Walker, J.B.; Keirans, J.E.; Horak, I.G.; (2005). The genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae): a guide to the brown ticks of the world. Cambridge University Press; 59-462.
Youssefi, M.R.; Rahimi, M.T.; Hosseini, S.M.; Darvishi, M.M.; (2011). First Report of Rhipicephalus turanicus from Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) in North of Iran. World J Zool; 4: 401-403.