در اماكن داخلي و بررسي آلودگي اورنيتودروس تولوزاني به بورليا پرسيكا در شهرستان بيجار استان كردستان سال 2831 )Argasidae( مطالعه انتشار كنه هاي نرم

Faunistic Investigation on Soft Ticks and Infection of Ornithodorus Tholozani to Borrelia Persica in Bijar,Kurdistan Province, Iran 2003

Introduction: Ticks are the main arthropods that play an important role in disease transmission to human beings. They are also important in zoonosis. One of the most important diseases transmitted by soft ticks is relapsing fever and its causative agent, Borrelia persica, could be transmitted by O.tholozani. The disease transmission routes are mainly through tick bites, as well as coxal fluids. In the year 2003 a total of 36 Borreliasis cases were reported in Kurdistan Province, from which 95% were from Bijar Town. Materials and Methods: In the study area a total of 20 villages were selected randomly. The study was conducted between winter 2002 and autumn 2003. Ticks were collected in each season once. In each village 5 sites were chosen randomly as representatives of resting places of ticks. In each place ticks were collected by the hand collection method for a standard 20 minutes. All required information about the specimens was recorded in holding tubes of the ticks. Subsequently ticks were identified using the national systematic key. In order to find the infectivity of O.tholozani to B.persica, the ticks were smashed in a proper way and then suspensions were injected into Guiana pigs and mice. From day 4 onwards for 10 days the animalsʹ blood were examined under microscope for presence of Borrelia in the blood smear. All the information was subjected to the statistical analysis and results were then interpreted. Results: During the entire period of the study a total of 8,537 soft ticks were collected. The ticks were identified in two genera, Argas (45.7%) and Ornithodoros (54.3%). Ornithodoros comprises of two species: Ornithodoros lahorenis with a maximum of 47.6% and Ornithodoros tholozani with a maximum of 6.7%. Argas includes Argas persicus (45.7%) and Argas refelxus with a minimum of 0.07%. Collected O.tholozani was tested for their infection with Borrelia persica. Among all the specimens tested only 3% were shown to be infected with this agent. This infection was only found in spring and summer. Conclusion: Our findings support the presence of disease in the study area. It should be emphasized that the peak of tick activity is synchronized with disease burden. The disease is found in Golbalagh village, Siah Mansoor region. This region is situated in vicinity of Takab City which was previously reported as an endemic area of Borreliasis.