Hard tick species of livestock and their bioecology in Golestan Province, North of Iran

Background: A survey on tick species composition was carried out in Golestan Province Iran during year 2010- 2011.The aim was to determine tick species parasitizing domestic ruminants and their seasonal population dynamics. Methods: A total of 124 sheep, 92 goats, 84 cattle, 74 camels and 12 horses in several villages were inspected for tick infestation. The collected ticks preserved in 70% alcohol and then were identified. Results: The overall 1059 ticks (453 female, 606 male) were collected. The ticks occur on sheep, goats, cattle, camels and horses as 72.1%, 77.3%, 75.8%, 69.3%, and 50% respectively. The frequency of ticks in spring was more than other seasons and the least was observed in winter. In the spring and summer, infestation rate in domestic ruminants were calculated as 100%. Six genus and fourteen hard and soft tick species were identified including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, R. bursa, Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis punctata, H. sulcata, H. erinacei, H. inermis, Hyalomma marginatum, Hy. asiaticum, Hy. dromedarii, Hy. excavatum, Hy. anatolicum, Hy. detritum, Boophilus annulatus and Argas persicus. Rhipicephalus sanguineus was the most abundant species in the study area. The largest number of ticks was collected from animal ears and tails. Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus and Boophilus occurred in mountainous, forest and plateau areas of Golestan Province but Ixodes occurred only in mountainous and forest areas, whereas Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma were present in coastal areas of Golestan Province. Conclusion: The result of this study is a survey on tick species from domestic animals in Iran and implication of possible prevention measures for diseases transmitted by ticks

Vectors of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus in Iran

Background: Ticks are important vectors and reservoirs of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus. Human beings may be infected whenever the normal life cycle of the infected ticks on non- human vertebrate hosts is interrupted by the undesirable presence of humans in the cycle. A total of 26 species of Argasid and Ixodid ticks have been recorded in Iran; including nine Hyalomma, two Rhipicephalus, two Dermacentor, five Haemaphysalis, two Boophilus, one Ixodes and two Argas as well as three Ornithodoros species as blood sucking ectoparasites of livestock and poultries. The present paper reviews tick vectors of CCHF virus in Iran, focusing on the role of ticks in different provinces of Iran using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Methods: During ten years study, 1054 tick specimens; including two species of Argasidae and 17 species of Ixodidae were examined for their infection to CCHF virus genome. The output of all studies as well as related publications were discussed in the current paper. Results: The results show that Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Hyalomma marginatum, H. anatolicum, H. asiaticum and H. dromedarii were known as the most frequent species which were positive for CCHF virus. Conclusion: The status of ticks which were positive for CCHF virus revealed that unlike the most common idea that Hyalomma species are the most important vectors of CCHF virus, other ticks including Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis and Dermacentor can be reservoir of this virus; thus, considering geographical distribution, type of host and environmental conditions, different tick control measurements should be carried out in areas with high incidence of CCHF disease

Molecular detection of anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae) in ixodid tick species in Iran

The present study was conducted as the first molecular detection of Anaplasma species in tick samples based on the sequencing of major surface proteins 4 (msp4) gene fragments in different parts of Iran. A total of 130 tick specimens were collected from Hormozgan, Lorestan, and Guilan, Iran, within 2015 to 2017. Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma dromedarii, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) species were identified in different geographical regions. An amplicon of 464-bp msp4 of Anaplasma was amplified using polymerase chain reaction in various tick species. Three sequences, including one Anaplasma marginale from R. (Boophilus) species and two Anaplasma ovis from Rhipicephalus sanguineus, were obtained after sequencing. It is concluded that bovine and ovine anaplasmosis agents are present in tick samples in Iran. The use of the gene families of six major surface proteins for the detection of various Anaplasma species is recommended. © 2020 by Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute

The first record of Rickettsia hoogstraalii (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) from Argas persicus (Acari: Argasidae) in Iran

The rickettsiae (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) are obligate intracellular and Gram-negative bacteria. They depend on arthropod vectors as well as the mammalian hosts for survival in the nature. 327 soft tick specimens associated the aviary were collected in Khorramabad county of Lorestan province, western Iran. Ticks were identified as Argas persicus according to a taxonomical key. Then, 64 tick specimens were analyzed for the presence of rickettsial DNA. Out of 64 specimens, 6 of them were positive and totally three DNA sequences including a single sequence of each ompA, ompB and sca4 genes was obtained from A. persicus ticks. Rickettsia hoogstraalii was detected in Ar. persicus representing the first record of this species in Iran. Sca4 gene fragment was unable to specify rickettsial infection in Ar. persicus ticks according to BLAST analysis. © 2020 Systematic & Applied Acarology Society

Molecular identification of some Haemaphysalis species (Acari: Ixodidae) using mitochondrial and nuclear evidences in parts of Iran

Haemaphysalis is the second largest ixodid tick genus. We decided to identify the Iranian Haemaphysalis species with the analysis of mitochondrial (COI & 16S rRNA) and nuclear (ITS2) gene sequences. Finally, 21 PCR products were sequenced, successfully. Phylogenetic trees were analyzed using BEAST software and Bayesian Inference method. Ha. sulcata and Ha. punctata were well differentiated using the 16S rRNA, COI and ITS2 genes. According to 16S rRNA and COI phylogenetic trees Ha. inermis is situated as an ancestral clade. © Systematic & Applied Acarology Society

Effect of pretreatment with intracerebroventricular injection of minocycline on morphine-induced memory impairment in passive avoidance test: Role of P-CREB and c-Fos expression in the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala regions

Minocycline as a member of the tetracycline family is a lipophilic broad-spectrum antibiotic, which can display some non-antibiotic properties such as antioxidant, antiapoptosis, neuroprotection and modulation of pharmacological traits of drugs of abuse (ie, reward, sensitization and/or analgesia). Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of minocycline on morphine-induced memory impairment and motor function in male Wistar rats. The behavioural responses were measured by a passive avoidance test for evaluating memory, and in the open field for studying motor function. Furthermore, the expression of Phospho-cAMP response element-binding protein (P-CREB) and c-Fos were assessed using immunohistochemistry in the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala (BLA). Our results showed that morphine dose-dependently impairs memory consolidation, but not motor function. Maximum effect was achieved with morphine at dose of 5 mg/kg. Pretreatment with ICV injection of minocycline (50 μg/rat) prevented morphine-induced memory impairment, but there was no effect on motor function. The results of immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that morphine decreased expression of P-CREB positive cells compared to saline control group in the BLA, but not in the dorsal hippocampus. On the other hand, pretreatment of animals with ICV injection of minocycline increased the expression of P-CREB in both brain areas. Moreover, there was no significant change in the expression of c-Fos positive cells in above-mentioned regions. In summary, our results indicated that pretreatment with ICV injection of minocycline prevented morphine-induced memory impairment and increased P-CREB expression in the dorsal hippocampus and BLA, which may explain its memory improvement property. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Lt

Circulation of Brucellaceae, Anaplasma and Ehrlichia spp. in borderline of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Armenia

Objective: To estimate the infection of ticks to Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Theileria, and Brucellaceae using molecular methods in borderline of Iran, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Methods: Totally, 2 022 ticks were collected from different livestock. Then, species were diagnosed under stereomicroscope according to valid morphological keys. Tick DNA was extracted followed by PCR to detect Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Theileria, Babesia and Brucellaceae infection in ticks. Results: A total of 498 males [24.62% (95% CI 22.76%-26.57%)], 741 females [36.64% (95% CI 34.54%-38.79%)], 782 nymphs [38.67% (95% CI 36.55%-40.84%)] and 1 larva [0.04% (95% CI 0.00%-0.28%)] were identified. Among identified samples, we found four genera including Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis, and Dermacentor. Molecular assay revealed that the prevalence of ticks to Anaplasma or Ehrlichia, and Brucellaceae was 22.02% (95% CI 16.01%-29.06%) and 15.03% (95% CI 9.43%-22.26%), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the identified Anaplasma sp. had the most similarity with Anaplasma centrale, Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma camelii, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, submitted in GenBank. Furthermore, the detected Ehrlichia sp. and Brucellaceae bacterium had the most similarity with Ehrlichia ruminantium and Mycoplana peli, respectively. However, no sign of the presence of Theileria and Babesia spp. was seen in the studied samples. Conclusions: Anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and brucellosis should be considered as important health threats in northwestern Iran and consistent monitoring on infection of ticks and livestock should be performed regularly