Survey of the infective tick fauna on cows and their seasonal population variations in Azarbayejan-e-qarbi province, Iran

Ticks are obligatory ectoparasites of animals especially mammalians. Tick species living on cow skin, their population variations and infection rate of cows according to age, gender and season were studied from March 006 to February 007 in Azarbayejan e qarbi province, Iran. Tick specimens were collected from 800 male and female cows of different ages in cities of the province and data were analyzed by SPSS software. As a result, 8 cows (%0.6) have been infected by ticks. The highest and lowest infection rates were observed in late May and February, respectively. Results of data analysis showed that there were significant differences between numbers of ticks isolated in different seasons. From 70 adult and larvae of identified ticks, Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (%49.78), Rhipicephalus bursa (%8.9), Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum (%.95), Rhipicephalus sanguineous (%.7), Dermacentor marginatus (%4.55), Boaphilus anulatus (%0.7) and Rhipicephalus thuranicus (%0.7) had highest abundance, respectively. Ticks on the cow body surface were observed on inguinal region (%50.6), perineum (%0.), breasts (%5.87) and testis (%.7).