Prevalence, Distribution, and Molecular Record of Four Hard Ticks from Livestock in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Ticks are important arthropod vectors that serve as reservoirs of pathogens. Rapid urbanization and changes in animal breeding practices could be causing a rise in tick burden on animals. Studies on tick distribution on livestock and tick molecular diversity from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are limited. The aim of this study was to (i) provide molecular and morphological identification of tick species, (ii) compare tick infestation between different hosts, (iii) compare tick infestation in relation to the sex of the host, and (iv) assess the prevalence of tick species on hosts. A total of 5950 ticks were collected from camels (4803 ticks), cows (651 ticks), goats (219 ticks), and sheep (277 ticks). Ticks were identified based on morphological characters at the species level using taxonomic keys. In addition, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and 16S rRNA mitochondrial genes was used to identify ticks. Four species were confirmed based on molecular and morphological characterization, namely, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Amblyomma lepidum. Hyalomma dromedarii (94.3%) was the most abundant species, followed by H. anatolicum (32.8%). Camels were heavily infested (94%) with ticks as compared to cows (38%), sheep (37%), and goats (14%). Widespread occurrence of these four tick species in the UAE poses a risk of spreading tick-borne pathogens wherever the conditions of infection prevail.

Epidemiological and Morphological Studies on Hyalomma Species Infesting Dromedary Camels in Aswan Governorate, Egypt

“…In the present study, a seasonal variations of camels infestation were higher in summer (93.7%), and the lowest infestation occur in winter (44.4%), This agreed with Nourollahi Fard et al (2012), Moshaverinia and Moghaddas (2015), Hassan et al (2017), Perveen et al (2020) andShamsi et al (2020). But, this disagreed with Bala et al (2018) they found that the autumn rate was (40.22%), followed by winter (30.07%) and summer (29.71%).…”

“…In the present study, the face, udder, testes, hind limbs, and tail were the most infested site with rate of (97.5%, 1160/1190) for each, followed by fore limbs (96.6%, 1150/ 1190), chest (94%, 1120/1190), and abdomen (92.4%, 1100/ 1190). This more or less agreed with Nazifi et al (2011) in Iran found adult ticks on axilla (36%), groin (20%), interdigital cleft (14%), genital area (12%), anus (10%), tail-brush (4%) and ears (4%), Nourollahi Fard et al (2012) found that perineum and chest infested rate was (91.1%), external ear (6.3%), shoulder (2.6%), Perveen et al (2020) reported that most c ticks were found attached to the perianal, and vulvar regions, the inner surface of thighs, udder, and inguinal region, but fewer ticks were on pinna, and tchest region, Al-Deeb and Muzaffar (2020) found that the highest number of ticks were on tail area followed by abdomen, and Elati et al (2021) in Tunisia illustrated the preferred attachment sites for adult Hyalomma ticks were the sternum (38.3%), around the anus (36.2%), udder (18.4%), and inner thigh (6.9%).…”

“…The significance of ticks is mainly owing to cause emerging and re-emerging diseases, which are important universal problems of great concern to humans as well as to animal health (Perveen et al, 2021a). Ticks are globally considered important arthropod vectors due to the wide variety of human and animal pathogens they can transmit (Perveen et al, 2020). In North Africa, ticks are one of the utmost damaging pest, and potent vectors for transmission of various bacterial, viral, rickettsial, as well as protozoan diseases of animals and man (Karesh et al, 2005), tick-borne protozoan diseases e.g.…”

Assessing Temporal Changes in Microbial Communities in Hyalomma dromedarii Collected From Camels in the UAE Using High-Throughput Sequencing

“…In addition, ticks were identified at the molecular level using 16S rRNA gene with the primers 16S+1 and 16S−1 (5′-CTGCTCAATGATTTTTTAAATTGCTGTGG-3′ and 5′-CCGGTCTGAACTCAGATCAAGT-3′, respectively). The details of sample processing, DNA extraction, and PCR conditions had been mentioned elsewhere ( 36 ). The mean monthly temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) was obtained from the nearest meteorological station.…”

Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever in the Arab world: A systematic review

“…More recently, CCHFV antibodies were detected in dromedary camels in two different studies (10,68) (Table 1). Hyalomma ticks are the most prevalent vector species reported on camels, cows, sheep, and goats in the UAE (106)(107)(108). Therefore, continued surveillance, monitoring, and screening of tick vectors, animals, and associated people are required to prevent any future CCHF outbreak.…”