Hard ticks circulate Anaplasma spp. in South-Khorasan province, Iran

Ticks are vectors for several important zoonoses including different species of Anaplasma. The present study aims to determine the presence of Anaplasma spp. in hard ticks collected from livestock of South-Khorasan province, Iran. A total of 684 livestock were sampled and 269 ticks were collected. Two genera and 6 species of ticks were identified including Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Hyalomma detritium, Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma asiaticum, Hyalomma dromedarii and Hyalomma spp. Eleven Hyalomma nymphs and 3 Rhipicephalus nymphs were also identified. 100 Out of 269 ticks were chosen for molecular detection. DNA was extracted followed by PCR technique to detect Anaplasma spp. The presence of Anaplasma spp. was confirmed in 20 out of 100 tested samples (20%). All positive samples collected from Birjand county were Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Results of the present study showed a relatively high infection rate of Anaplasma in hard ticks in South-Khorasan Province.