Manizheh Roohnavaz - Msc, Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Babak Khalili Hadadi - Msc, PhD, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Acience, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen branch, Rodehen-Iran
Asadollah Hosseini Chegeni - PhD of Agricultural Entomology, Lorestan University, Iran.
Zakkyeh Telmadarraiy - PhD, Department of Medical Entomology & Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Ticks are one of the most important blood sucking ectoparasites of vertebrate that cause many diseases, including viral, protozoan and bacterial. Some of the most important diseases that can be transmitted by the ticks are recurrence fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Theileriosis and Babesiosis. These agents are firstly propagated within tick vector then transmitted to the susceptible host by blood-sucking. So another infected tick can transmit pathogenic agents into healthy animal or humans.Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the contamination of livestock tick with Anaplasma agents using a molecular method in Kerman provinces.Materials and Methods: Jiroft, Kahnuj, Anbarabad, Southern Roodbar, Ghaleh Ganj and Faryab in Kerman province, which is one of the country s animal husbandry centers, are selected for present investigation. Tick specimens were collected using a forceps so that the tick transferred to test tubes. The specimens were transferred to the lab by inserting them into a cold flask. Valid identification keys were used for identification of ticks at the genus and species level. Nested- and conventional PCR were also used for PCR molecular analysis.Results: A total of 74 hard tick samples were collected from 404 infected livestock (18.31% frequency). The ticks were identified by 3 ixodid genera and 6 species including Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) sp. (3%), Hyalomma dromedarii (5%), Hyalomma marginatum (1%), Haemaphysalis sulcata (1%), Hyalomma sp. (15%),Hyalomma anatolicum (38%), Rhipicephalus sanguineous (37%). The highest frequency is related to Hyalomma anatolicum (38%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (37%), and the lowest frequency is related to Hyalomma marginatum and Haemaphysalis sulcata with one percent.Conclusion: According to our findings and regarding to the fauna of hard ticks collected in this survey, there is the risk of Anaplasma spp. transmission in the study areas of Kerman Province This important issue should be considered by health authorities.

Hard ticks, Ixodidae, Anaplasma, Nested-PCR, Kerman