Assessing the Influence of Seasonal and Climatic Variations on Livestock Tick Incidence in Tehran Province, Iran: Cross-Sectional Study
Ebrahim Abbasi
Abstract
Background Ticks are well-known ectoparasites of domestic animals, causing significant economic losses and playing a crucial role in the transmission of pathogens within the livestock industry worldwide, including in Iran. Understanding the distribution and diversity of ticks is essential for effective control strategies, especially in regions like Tehran province, where livestock plays a vital role in the economy. Objective This study aimed to determine the frequency and distribution of livestock ticks across different seasons and climatic zones in Tehran province. Methods In 2019, a total of 1623 domestic animals infested with ticks were examined, including chickens, sheep, camels, cows, pigeons, and dogs. A total of 806 ticks were collected, comprising 121 (15%) soft ticks and 685 (85%) hard ticks. Tick species were identified and categorized based on their occurrence in mountainous and plain climate regions. Results Out of the 806 collected ticks, 44.8% (n=361) were found in the mountainous region and 55.2% (n=445) were found in the plain region. The most abundant species was Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n=307, 38.1%), while Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus was the least common (n=3, 0.4%). Seasonal variation indicated peak infestation in the spring (n=486, 60.3%) and the lowest infestation in the winter (n=77, 9.6%). Conclusions The study highlights the significant diversity and abundance of both soft and hard ticks in livestock across various regions of Tehran province. These findings emphasize the need for targeted tick control measures, considering the differences in tick distribution between mountainous and plain climate regions.