<strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are one of the most successful and widespread vectors of zoonotic pathogens of medical interest. Most ticks use a wide spectrum of vertebrate hosts, including tortoises. They are obligatory ectoparasitic blood sucking arthropods on egg laying (ovipositing) and/or mammalian h...

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Main Authors: Moslem Adeli-Sardou, Kourosh Azizi, Aboozar Soltani, Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Acarological Society of Iran 2019-07-01
Series:Persian Journal of Acarology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/44319
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author Moslem Adeli-Sardou
Kourosh Azizi
Aboozar Soltani
Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard
author_facet Moslem Adeli-Sardou
Kourosh Azizi
Aboozar Soltani
Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard
author_sort Moslem Adeli-Sardou
collection DOAJ
description Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are one of the most successful and widespread vectors of zoonotic pathogens of medical interest. Most ticks use a wide spectrum of vertebrate hosts, including tortoises. They are obligatory ectoparasitic blood sucking arthropods on egg laying (ovipositing) and/or mammalian hosts. The present investigation was part of a wider survey to study the fauna of wild ticks on primarily selective domesticated mammals and subsequently the likely tick infection with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus RNA. Ticks were morphologically identified to species level using a valid regional taxonomic key. They were subsequently processed for the presence of CCHF virus RNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). During this survey, two natural tortoises were found infested with ticks at highland. Hard tick species of Hyalomma marginatum marginatum, Hy. marginatum rufipes and Hy. marginatum aegyptium were found in attachment to two Eastern spur-thighed tortoise species of Testudo graeca (Reptilia: Testudinidae) for the first time in southeast Iran. These host tortoises were discovered at high altitude region of about 2800-2900m above sea level in the vicinity of a village in Jiroft county, Kerman province, Iran. None of these tortoise-associated ticks were infected with CCHF virus RNA. Since herd breeding nomads often climb to highland to improve animal grazing in open shrub land, the importance of infestation with wild ticks potentially infected with various pathogens is described.    
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spelling doaj-art-bbbcdb56a31c40ddb295329a4c8e8ce52025-08-20T02:29:08ZengAcarological Society of IranPersian Journal of Acarology2251-81692019-07-018310.22073/pja.v8i3.44319<strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>Moslem Adeli-Sardou0Kourosh Azizi1Aboozar SoltaniMohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard2Shiraz Univ. Med. Sci., Shiraz, IranShiraz Univ. Med. Sci., Shiraz, IranResearch Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Medical Entomology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are one of the most successful and widespread vectors of zoonotic pathogens of medical interest. Most ticks use a wide spectrum of vertebrate hosts, including tortoises. They are obligatory ectoparasitic blood sucking arthropods on egg laying (ovipositing) and/or mammalian hosts. The present investigation was part of a wider survey to study the fauna of wild ticks on primarily selective domesticated mammals and subsequently the likely tick infection with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus RNA. Ticks were morphologically identified to species level using a valid regional taxonomic key. They were subsequently processed for the presence of CCHF virus RNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). During this survey, two natural tortoises were found infested with ticks at highland. Hard tick species of Hyalomma marginatum marginatum, Hy. marginatum rufipes and Hy. marginatum aegyptium were found in attachment to two Eastern spur-thighed tortoise species of Testudo graeca (Reptilia: Testudinidae) for the first time in southeast Iran. These host tortoises were discovered at high altitude region of about 2800-2900m above sea level in the vicinity of a village in Jiroft county, Kerman province, Iran. None of these tortoise-associated ticks were infected with CCHF virus RNA. Since herd breeding nomads often climb to highland to improve animal grazing in open shrub land, the importance of infestation with wild ticks potentially infected with various pathogens is described.     https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/44319HyalommaSpur-thighed tortoiseTestudoticksCCHFIran
spellingShingle Moslem Adeli-Sardou
Kourosh Azizi
Aboozar Soltani
Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard
<strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>
Persian Journal of Acarology
Hyalomma
Spur-thighed tortoise
Testudo
ticks
CCHF
Iran
title <strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>
title_full <strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>
title_fullStr <strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>
title_full_unstemmed <strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>
title_short <strong>First record of hard tick species, <em>Hyalomma marginatum marginatum</em> and <em>H. marginatum rufipes</em> (Acari: Ixodidae), as probable vectors of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, from the spur-thighed tortoise, <em>Testudo graeca </em>(Reptilia: Testudinidae), SE Iran</strong>
title_sort strong first record of hard tick species em hyalomma marginatum marginatum em and em h marginatum rufipes em acari ixodidae as probable vectors of crimean congo hemorrhagic fever virus from the spur thighed tortoise em testudo graeca em reptilia testudinidae se iran strong
topic Hyalomma
Spur-thighed tortoise
Testudo
ticks
CCHF
Iran
url https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/44319
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