Abstract：
Ticks are important ectoparasites in equids, causing economic losses in animal husbandry in Iran and worldwide. This study was aimed to determine frequency and species diversity of hard ticks in equids in Ardabil province, during the four seasons in 2021. A total of 240 equids (187 horses, 53 donkeys) were randomly selected and examined. Ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. Of all examined equids, 32.5% horses, and 4.58% donkeys were infested with a total number of 412 ixodid ticks. Tick indices (tick number per animal) were 4.62. There was significant difference between prevalence and different age groups of infested animals. The highest prevalence of hard ticks was found in ≥3 years-old equids in the region. Of all examined ticks (412), three genera including Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus spp. .and Dermacentor spp. with four species. i.e. Hyalomma anatolicum (73.05%), H. marginatum (17.23%), Rhipicephalus bursa (7.76%) and Dermacentor marginatus (1.94%) were identified. Ixodid ticks\' infestations occurred throughout the year with the highest prevalence in spring. The findings indicated that the equids had a high species diversity and ixodid tick infestation, necessitating additional research to identify any possible tick vectors for the hemoparasite transmission in equids of this region.
摘要：
蜱是重要的类动物外寄生虫，给伊朗乃至全世界的畜牧业造成了经济损失。这项研究的目的是确定阿尔达比尔省马科动物中硬蜱的频率和物种多样性，在2021年的四个季节。总共240匹（187匹马，随机选择53只驴）并进行检查。从受检查动物的身体表面收集并鉴定Ixodid蜱。在所有被检查的马科动物中，32.5％的马，和4.58%的驴感染了412只伊克多蜱。蜱指数(每只动物的蜱数)为4.62。受感染动物的患病率和不同年龄组之间存在显着差异。在该地区≥3岁的马科动物中，硬蜱的患病率最高。在所有检查过的蜱中(412)，三个属，包括Hyalommaspp。,Rhipicephalusspp..和Dermacentorspp。有四个物种。即anatolicumHyalommaanatolicum(73.05%),H.边缘（17.23%），确定了法氏囊（7.76％）和边缘皮肤（1.94％）。全年发生Ixodid蜱虫感染，春季患病率最高。研究结果表明，该类动物具有较高的物种多样性，并有ixodid虫侵染，需要进行更多的研究，以确定该区域同等动物中血液寄生虫传播的任何可能的滴答矢量。
