The Seasonal Activity of Ixodes ricinus Tick in Amol, Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to demonstrate the seasonal activities of Ixodes ricinus at the pasture level and on the host. METHODS A vast pasture in Amol countryside (Mazandaran Province, Iran) which had the potential for a considerable number of cattle and sheep to graze was chosen. Tick sampling from the skin of 130 cattle and 130 sheep were collected every month interval. Simultaneously, the activity of the different stages of I. ricinus on the pasture was considered by dragging method. The collected ticks were placed in jars containing 70% alcohol and sent to the parasitological laboratory for identification. RESULTS The rate of the infestation with adult I. ricinus in cattle and sheep increases gradually with the beginning of fall and reaches its peak in January, February and March while it starts to decline with the beginning of spring as the infestation rate reach to zero in summer months. Accordingly, the highest number of adult I. ricinus existed on the cattle during January, February, and March. In addition, the results of dragging have been revealed that the active tick population in the pasture exists during November, December, January, and March. CONCLUSION Ixodes ricinus is regarded a common tick species in Amol (Mazandaran). Due to the biological properties of I. ricinus which is active in the cold and humid months of the year, the prevalence of ruminant infestations with I. ricinus in this area increases from November to March but reaches to zero again with the beginning of summer.