First parasitological survey of Calomyscus elburzensis (Rodentia; Calomyscidae); two new records of tick from Iran

Rodent species have active role in transmission of serious pathogens and are reservoir for many zoonotic diseases, so their ectoparasitic fauna become of special concern. A survey of ectoparasites occurring on Calomyscus elburzensis was carried out from April through September 2014 in Khaje Morada rocky hillsides region situated in the southeast of Mashhad, Iran. A total of 48 Goodwin’s brush-tailed mouse C. elburzensis were examined. Two species of ticks were collected: Red sheep tick, Haemaphysalis punctata Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877 and Vole tick, Ixodes trianguliceps Birula, 1895. Also two specimens of pseudoscorpions, Withius nanus Mahnert 1988 (Cheliferoidea; Withiide) was hand-collected from body surface of this rodent. These are all new records from Iran and also from this small rodent. Also overall infection rate was 8.33% (4 infected out of 48 Goodwin’s brush-tailed mice). Although C. elburzensis populations in this area did not show a high infestation rate of ectoparasites, but with respect to the fact that infested rodents near human habitations may cause rodent-borne diseases among the inhabitants, thus further parasitological investigations are needed to explore the epidemiologic pattern related to such zoonotic diseases.