current status of tick fauna in north of iran

background: the distribution and ecological preferences of ticks of domestic animals in north of iran were studied four times a year from 2002 to 2005. methods: a total of 1720 tick specimens were collected from cattle, sheep and goats from different localities of caspian sea areas consisting of guilan, mazandaran, golestan and ardebil provinces, iran. results: fourteen tick species were identified as hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (5.23%), h.marginatum (20.34%), h.detritum (3.48%), haemaphysalis punctata (12.79%), haem. parva (0.58%), haem.concinna (0.58%), haem.choldokovsky (6.97%), ixodes ricinus (2.32%), rhipicephalus sanguineus (19.76%), rh.bursa (4.65%), boophilus annulatus (9.88%), dermacentor niveus (6.39%), d. marginatus (1.74%) and ornithodoros lahorensis (5.23%). both dermacentor and ornithodoros were found only in ardebil with cold climatic conditions and high altitude. the only ticks, which were found in forest area, were boophilus annulatus and ixodes ricinus. conclusion: the veterinary and public health importance of the above species should be emphasized.