Determination and distribution of the tick species collected from infested cattle in sivas, Turkey

In our country, the diseases caused by some factors that are carried by ticks are more common among people in recent years. On the other hand, tick-borne protozoan diseases of domestic animals such as theileriosis, babesiosis constitute major health problems and the medical importance of the tick increased due to both cases. In this study, we aimed to determine the main tick species that particularly we found in the cattle in our region. The ticks, which were collected from 250 cattle raised in 25 villages of Sivas Province where livestock farming is common, were identified. The study was conducted in March-June 2008. Ticks collected from villages were examined under a stereomicroscope using the related keys, and their species were identified. It was found out that 378 of 637 ticks (59,4%), which were collected from 250 cattle, are ticks of Hyalomma genus that is known to carry viruses that are causative agents of the disease Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in our region, 248 (38,9%) are of Rhipicephalus genus, 10 (1,5%) are of Haemaphysalis, 1 (0,1%) is of Dermacentor genus. Ticks are important for human and animal health for their being vectors. The determination of tick species in a region is important, for it enables the implementation of the appropriate control methods, taking under control common tick infestations and reduction of the deadly viral and parasitic diseases accordingly.