First molecular detection of Theileria ovis in Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick in Iran

Objective:To determine tick infestation of domestic ruminants and their infection to ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.Methods:About 425 domestic ruminants in Ghaemshahr city in northern Iran were inspected for tick infestations.Twenty tick specimens(13 females and 7 males) of Rhipicephalus sanguineus(R.sanguineus).the most common lick in the study area, were tested by PCR amplification against 18s rRNA genome of Theileria spp using specie specific primers and then the PCR products were sequenced for species identification In comparison with data base available in GenBank.Results:About 323 ticks were collected from 102 animals(88 sheep,12 goats and 2 cattle).The prevalence of ticks infesting animals was R.sanguineus(82.35%), Rhipieeplialus bursa(R.bursa)(0.3%),Ixodes ricinus(I.ricinus)(15.2%),Boophilus annulatus (B.annulalus)(1.2%).Haemaphxsalis punctata(H.punctata)(0.3%) and Haemaphysalis numidiana(H.numidianu)(0.6%).Eleven(55%) tick specimens were PCR positive against genome of Theileria ovis(T.avis).Sequence analysis of the PCR products confirmed presence of T. oris in one R.sanguinus.Conclusions:This is the first report of tick infection to T.oris in Iran. Due to dominant prevalence of R.sanguineus as well as its infection to T.oris,it is postulated this tick is the main vector of ovine theileriosis in northern Iran.

Phlebotomus papatasi and Meriones libycus as the vector and reservoir host of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Qomrood District,Qom Province,central Iran

Objective:To determine the sand flies species responsible for most transmission of Leishmania major(L major) to human,as well as to determine the main reservoir hosts of the disease. Methods:Sand flies were collected using sticky papers and mounted in Puri’s medium for species identification.Rodents were trapped by live Sherman traps.Both sand flies and rodents were subjected to molecular methods for detection of leishmanial parasite.Results:Phlebotomus papatasi(P.papatasi) was the common species in outdoor and indoor resting places.Employing PCR technique only three specimens of 150 P.papatasi(2%) were found naturally infected by parasites with a band of 350 bp which is equal to the L major parasite.Forty six rodents were captured by Sherman traps and identified.Microscopic investigation on blood smear of the animals for amastigote parasites revealed 1(3.22%) infected Meriones libycus(M.libycus). Infection of this animal to L.major was confirmed by PCR against rDNA loci of the parasite. Conclusions:This is the first molecular report of parasite infection of both vector(P.papatasi) and reservoir(M.libycus) to L major in the region.The results indicated that P.papatasi was the primary vector of the disease and circulating the parasite between human and reservoirs and M. libycus was the most important host reservoir for maintenance of the parasite source in the area.

Survey of tick species parasiting domestic ruminants in Ghaemshahr county,Mazandaran province,Iran

Objective:To determine the tick species parasitizing domestic ruminants in Ghaemshahr county in Mazandaran,a Caspian province in the north of Iran.Methods:About 361 sheep, 54 goats and 10 cattle of 18 herds in several villages in Ghaemshahr were inspected for tick infestation.Separated ticks were preserved in 70% alcohol and identified.Results:About 323 ticks(207 female,116 male) were collected,the occurrence of ticks on sheep,goats and cattle were 28.3% .22.2% and 20.0% respectively.The mean number of ticks on each animal was low (3-5 ticks per animal).Rhipicephalus sanguineus,Rhipicephalus bursa.Ixodes ricinus,Boophilus annulalus,Haemaphysalis punctata and Haemaphysalis numidiana were the tick species we found.Rhipicephalus sanguineus were the most abundant species in the study area.The largest number of ticks were generally present from April to July,mostly in animal ears and tails. Ixodes,Boophilus and Haemaphysalis occurred in mountainous areas of Ghaemshahr.whereas Rhipicephalus were present in both mountains and plains of the study area.Conclusions:The result of this study is a survey of tick species from domestic animals in Iran and implication of possible prevention measures for diseases transmitted by ticks.

Crimean—Congo hemorrhagic fever:a molecular survey on hard ticks(Ixodidae) in Yazd province,Iran

Objective:To determine the rate of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus(CCHFV) infection in hard ticks(Ixodidae) in Yazd province of Iran.Methods:A molecular survey on hard ticks (Ixodidae) was conducted in Yazd province during 2008 -2009.A total of 140 hard ticks(three genera and 7 species) were collected from randomly selected villages and were exanimate for presence of CCHFV reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) method.Results: CCHFV genome was found in 5.71%of hard ticks.All positive ticks were from Hyalomma genus. Positive ticks including:Hyalomma dromedarii,Hyalomma marginatum,Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma detritum,Hyalomma asiaticum.We were not able to find virus in in Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Dermacentor marginatus.Results exhibited that Hyalomma is the main vector in the study area.Conclusions:Due to the presence of virus in 24 provinces’ out of 31,we recommend the use of acaricides and repellent to prevent disease transmission among humans. Greta care should be taken by the people who are working in slaughter houses.

First detection of Leishmania infantum DNA in wild caught Phlebotomus papatasi in endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis,south of Iran

Objective:To identify the vectors and reservoirs of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the endemic focus of Farashband,Fars Province,South of Iran.Methods:Sticky papers and Sherman trap were used for collection of sand flies and rodents,respectively.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)of kDNA,ITS1-rDNA were used for identification of Leishmania parasite in sand flies as well as rodents.Results:Totally 2010 sand flies were collected and the species of Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli was the common specimen in outdoors and indoors places.PCR technique was employed on 130females of Phlebotomus papatasi.One of them(0.76%)was positive to parasite Leishmania major(L.major)and one specimen(0.76%)was positive to Leishmania infantum.Microscopic investigation on blood smear of the animal reservoirs for amastigote parasites revealed 16(44%)infected Tatera indica.Infection of them to L.major was confirmed by PCR against kDNA loci of the parasite.Conclusions:The results indicated that Phlebotomus papatasi was the dominant species circulating two species of parasites including L.major and Leishmania infantum among human and reservoirs.Furthermore,Tatera indica is the only main host reservoir for maintenance of the parasite source in the area.