Dispersion Indices, Geostatistics, and Identification of Ixodidae Species in Bandar Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares Univesity,Tehran, Iran

2 Reference Lab for Tick Study, Department of Parasitology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute,

3 Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University

10.22038/mjms.2025.87702.4993

Abstract

Ticks are among the most significant arthropods in medical and veterinary sciences due to their ability to transmit deadly pathogens. Economically, they are the most important ectoparasites of livestock and other animals in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to investigate dispersion indices and geostatistics to identify the distribution pattern of Ixodidae Ticks in Bandar Mahshahr, Khuzestan Province.
From March 2023 to February 2024, Ticks were collected from three areas in Bandar Mahshahr: Chamran, Shahrak-e Shahid Madani, and Maqtu’e Olya. They were carefully removed using alcohol-soaked cotton and forceps, preserved in vials containing 96% ethanol, and transferred to the laboratory. Species identification was performed using taxonomic keys and stereomicroscopic examination.
To analyze their dispersion, Taylor’s index, Iwao’s index, Morisita’s index, and the k-index were applied. A total of 428 hard ticks were collected and identified, belonging to four species: Hyalomma anatolicum, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus turanicus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Regression analysis revealed that random dispersion was more prevalent than aggregated dispersion during spring and summer. The results indicated that spring provides more favorable environmental conditions for Tick movement, while summer exhibits stronger dispersion patterns. Based on these findings, tick control strategies can be seasonally adjusted, and control measures can be tailored according to population dynamics.

Keywords

References

  1. Taheriyan S. Vectors, Biology, Morphology, importance and control. Tehran. Sobhan Publisher; 2007.
  2. Jongejan F, UILENBERG G. The global importance of ticks. Parasitology. 2004;129(S1):S3-S14.
  3. Nicholson WL, Sonenshine DE, Noden BH, Brown RN. Ticks (ixodida). Medical and veterinary entomology: Elsevier; 2019. p. 603-72.
  4. Nava S, Guglielmone AA, Mangold AJ. An overview of systematics and evolution of ticks. Front Biosci. 2009;14(8):2857-77.
  5. Barnett S. The control of ticks on livestock. 1961.
  6. Bowman AS, Nuttall PA. Ticks: biology, disease and control: Cambridge University Press; 2008.
  7. Ward RD. Service MW: Medical Entomology for Students: Cambridge University Press; 2008: 306. ISBN 978-0-521-70928-6. Springer; 2008.
  8. Guglielmone AA, Robbins RG, Apanaskevich DA, Petney TN, Estrada-Peña A, Horak IG. The hard ticks of the world: Springer; 2014.
  9. Minjauw B, McLeod A. Tick-borne diseases and poverty: the impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on the livelihoods of small-scale and marginal livestock owners in India and eastern and southern Africa. 2003.
  10. Barker S, Murrell A. Systematics and evolution of ticks with a list of valid genus and species names. Parasitology. 2004;129(S1):S15-S36.
  11. Vinatier F, Tixier P, Duyck PF, Lescourret F. Factors and mechanisms explaining spatial heterogeneity: a review of methods for insect populations. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 2011;2(1):11-22.
  12. Pearson R. Species’ distribution modeling for conservation educators and practitioners. Synthesis/American Museum of Natural History. 2007;50.
  13. Vandermeer JH. Niche theory. Annual review of Ecology and Systematics. 1972:107-32.
  14. Cressie N. Statistics for spatial data: John Wiley & Sons; 2015.
  15. Binns MR, Nyrop JP, van der Werf W, Werf W. Sampling and monitoring in crop protection: the theoretical basis for developing practical decision guides: Cabi; 2000.
  16. Southwood T. Ecological processes and sustainability. The International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology. 1995;2(4):229-39.
  17. Haftlang KK, Lang KKH. The book of Iran: a survey of the geography of Iran: Alhoda UK; 2003.
  18. Norouzi M, Dayer MS, Ghaffarifar F. Molecular detection and characterisation of Theileria in hard ticks of small ruminants in Zarrin Dasht County, Southern Iran. Veterinary Medicine and Science. 2023;9(1):372-9.
  19. Vahedi Noori N, Abdi Goodarzi M, Kiasari MN. Evaluation of the species diversity and abundance of hard ticks (Family: Ixodidae) parasite of cattle and sheep in Mazandaran province. Veterinary Research & Biological Products. 2015;28(1):58-64.
  20. Ganjali M, Dabirzadeh M, Sargolzaie M. Species diversity and distribution of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Zabol County, eastern Iran. Journal of arthropod-borne diseases. 2014;8(2):219.
  21. Farahi A, Ebrahimzade E, Nabian S, Hanafi-Bojd AA, Akbarzadeh K, Bahonar A. Temporal and spatial distribution and species diversity of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in the eastern region of Caspian Sea. Acta Tropica. 2016;164:1-9.
  22. Drehmann M, Springer A, Lindau A, Fachet K, Mai S, Thoma D, et al. The spatial distribution of Dermacentor ticks (Ixodidae) in Germany—Evidence of a continuing spread of Dermacentor reticulatus. Frontiers in veterinary science. 2020;7:578220.
  23. Daniels TJ, Fish D. Spatial distribution and dispersal of unfed larval Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae) in southern New York. Environmental Entomology. 1990;19(4):1029-33.
  24. Silatsa BA, Simo G, Githaka N, Mwaura S, Kamga RM, Oumarou F, et al. A comprehensive survey of the prevalence and spatial distribution of ticks infesting cattle in different agro-ecological zones of Cameroon. Parasites & vectors. 2019;12:1-14.
Medical Journal of Mashhad university of Medical Sciences
Volume 68, Issue 6
January and February 2026
Pages 1771-1779

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics