Survey on cattle ticks in Nur,north of Iran

Objective:To survey the prevalence of cattle ticks in Nur County and prepare a list of tick fauna in this district.Methods:This investigation was carried out on 150 head of cattle ticks of rural areas of Nur city which is located in Mazandaran province during spring and summer seasons of 2011.The collected ticks were identified using light microscope and available systematic keys.Results:A total number of 1563 ticks were isolated from examined cattle and their genus and numbers including:lxodes ricinus 51%(111 male and 691 female)and Boophilus annulatus 49%(83male and 678 female),respectively.Conclusions:Results of the current investigation indicate the presence of two species of acarine ectoparasites which have potential health risk lxodes ricinus and Boophilus annulatus.More studies are required to increase our data concerning ticks and other ectopreasites of ruminants in other areas of Mazandaran province and should be noted to their ability in transmission of infectious agents.

Hematological and serum biochemical aspects associated with a camel(Camelus dromedarius)naturally infected by Trypanosoma evansi with severe parasitemia in Semnan,Iran

Objective:To determine the presence of Trypanosoma eransi(T.evansi) and the effect of trypanosomosis on hemato-biochemical profile of dromedary camels in Semnan,Iran,which has not been reported yet.Methods:To perform this project,blood samples were collected by venipuncture into plain and EDTA-K2-containing vacutainer tubes from 21 dromedary camels(12 males and 9 females) aged3—18 years,from 4 different regions of Semnan.Results:Microscopic examination of stained thin blood smears revealed the presence of T.evansi in one of the samples.However,it should be noted that this sample showed a very high parasitemia(more than 5 trypomastigote were visible per microscopic field with MGG,1000×.This heavy parasitemia was associated with an 18-year-old female camel that showed symptoms of corneal opacity,intense emaciation and pale mucous membranes.Comparison of hematological and serum biochemical profiles between the camel infected by T.eransi and uninfected camels indicated anemia,leukocytosis,hyperproteinemia.hypoalbuminemia,hyperglobulinemia,reduction A/G ratio,increased a,,p and globulins and decreased of a,globulins and increased the concentration of gumma-glutamyl transferase enzyme.Conclusions:Results of the present study revealed that trypanosomosis was present in dromedary camels of Semnan,Iran(infection rate is 4.76%) and hemato-biochemical parameters were markedly affected by camel trypanosomosis.