Biodiversity Indices and Medically Importance of Ticks in North Khorasan Province, Northeast of Iran

Ticks are considered as the main vectors for the transmission of various pathogens such as relapsing fever and CCHF to humans. This study was investigated the biodiversity indices and medically importance of ticks in North Khorasan Province, Northeast of Iran during 2015-2019. Specimens were captured from infested ruminants including cows, sheep, and goats. Additionally, tick collections also were performed on non-domesticated creatures such as turtles, rodents, and hedgehogs. Specimens were identified using valid identification keys. Species diversity, species richness and evenness indices have been calculated to estimate species biodiversity of ticks. A total of 1478 adult ticks were collected. The specimens were from two families: (90.05%) and (9.95%), 6 genera and 17 species including: (55.9%), (13.4%), (9.5%), (9.5%), (0.2%), (0.5%), (1.3%), (1.2%), (0.7%), (0.1%), (0.1%), (0.2%), (0.1% (1.2), and (6.1%) among hard ticks as well as (91.8%) and (8.2%) amongst soft ticks. , and were known as the most frequent species of hard ticks. Tick's species richness, Shannon diversity index and Simpson index in this area were S= 17, H'= 1.69, D= 0.294 respectively. Based on tick distribution veterinary authority, public health organizations and other officials should act for implementation of disease prevention.