The Impact of Environmental Parameters on Hard Tick Distribution in North Central Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

3 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ardakan University, P.O. Box 184, Ardakan, Iran

4 Biology and Animal Reproduction Science Research Institute, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran

Abstract

Ticks are considered one of the most significant pathogen transmitters, affecting animal and human health worldwide and causing severe economic losses. In the present study, conducted between 2020 and 2021, 274 small ruminants were sampled in six regions of Semnan Province, and tick samples were collected from their body surface. The mean infestation intensity was 4.7 ± 0.9 ticks per animal (95% CI: 3.9–5.5). Hyalomma marginatum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus were the most prevalent. The implementation of the Maxent model on the Hyalomma demonstrated that an increase in the average annual temperature from -5°C to 20°C, and a decrease in precipitation of the wettest quarter of the year, increases the probability of finding the tick. For Rhipicephalus, an increase in the average annual temperature from -5°C to +5°C increased the probability of finding the tick. The onset of precipitation during the driest month significantly reduced tick abundance. Due to global warming, hard tick populations are expected to increase in these areas in the coming years.

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References

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Veterinary and Comparative Biomedical Research
Volume 3, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 46-56

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