<p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p>
The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is native to North and Central America but has been introduced to several Old World countries including Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of raccoons in Iran. During 2015–2017, a total of 30 feral raccoons were collected from Gu...
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| Language: | English |
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Acarological Society of Iran
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Persian Journal of Acarology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/63915 |
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| author | Meysam Sharifdini Behzad Norouzi Shahyad Azari-Hamidian Nader Karamzadeh |
| author_facet | Meysam Sharifdini Behzad Norouzi Shahyad Azari-Hamidian Nader Karamzadeh |
| author_sort | Meysam Sharifdini |
| collection | DOAJ |
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The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is native to North and Central America but has been introduced to several Old World countries including Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of raccoons in Iran. During 2015–2017, a total of 30 feral raccoons were collected from Guilan Province, northern Iran. The fur of raccoons was examined for the presence of ectoparasites. The collected ectoparasites were preserved in 70% ethanol and microscopically and morphologically identified. In total, 11 fleas and 244 ixodid ticks were collected from 18 (60%) raccoons for the first time in Iran. Two raccoons (6.7%) harbored just fleas, five raccoons (16.7%) both fleas and ticks and 11 raccoons (36.7%) just ticks. Two species of fleas: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and Pulex irritans (human flea) were collected from seven raccoons (23.3%). Four species of ixodid ticks: Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. turanicus were collected from 16 raccoons (53.3%). All ectoparasites, except for cat flea, were found on raccoons for the first time. The prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of ectoparasites and the indices of affinity, association and diversity were calculated. The pair of species H. concinna/I. ricinus showed significant association and the infestation with I. ricinus in cubs was significantly higher than in adults (P ˂ 0.05). The medical importance of zoonotic infections transmittable by raccoons and their ectoparasites is discussed. The investigation of different possible vector-borne infections in raccoons and their ectoparasites in the study area is suggested.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b005db11f6d4b1e9b68c1e5b56e4c30 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2251-8169 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Acarological Society of Iran |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Persian Journal of Acarology |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b005db11f6d4b1e9b68c1e5b56e4c302025-08-20T01:57:00ZengAcarological Society of IranPersian Journal of Acarology2251-81692021-04-0110110.22073/pja.v10i1.63915<p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p>Meysam SharifdiniBehzad NorouziShahyad Azari-HamidianNader Karamzadeh The raccoon, Procyon lotor, is native to North and Central America but has been introduced to several Old World countries including Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ectoparasites of raccoons in Iran. During 2015–2017, a total of 30 feral raccoons were collected from Guilan Province, northern Iran. The fur of raccoons was examined for the presence of ectoparasites. The collected ectoparasites were preserved in 70% ethanol and microscopically and morphologically identified. In total, 11 fleas and 244 ixodid ticks were collected from 18 (60%) raccoons for the first time in Iran. Two raccoons (6.7%) harbored just fleas, five raccoons (16.7%) both fleas and ticks and 11 raccoons (36.7%) just ticks. Two species of fleas: Ctenocephalides felis (cat flea) and Pulex irritans (human flea) were collected from seven raccoons (23.3%). Four species of ixodid ticks: Haemaphysalis concinna, Ixodes ricinus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. turanicus were collected from 16 raccoons (53.3%). All ectoparasites, except for cat flea, were found on raccoons for the first time. The prevalence, mean abundance and mean intensity of ectoparasites and the indices of affinity, association and diversity were calculated. The pair of species H. concinna/I. ricinus showed significant association and the infestation with I. ricinus in cubs was significantly higher than in adults (P ˂ 0.05). The medical importance of zoonotic infections transmittable by raccoons and their ectoparasites is discussed. The investigation of different possible vector-borne infections in raccoons and their ectoparasites in the study area is suggested. https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/63915FleasGuilan Provincehost-parasite associationhost-parasite relationshipIxodidaeticks. |
| spellingShingle | Meysam Sharifdini Behzad Norouzi Shahyad Azari-Hamidian Nader Karamzadeh <p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p> Persian Journal of Acarology Fleas Guilan Province host-parasite association host-parasite relationship Ixodidae ticks. |
| title | <p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p> |
| title_full | <p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p> |
| title_fullStr | <p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p> |
| title_full_unstemmed | <p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p> |
| title_short | <p><strong>The first record of ectoparasites of raccoons (<em>Procyon lotor</em>) (Carnivora, Procyonidae) in Iran</strong></p> |
| title_sort | p strong the first record of ectoparasites of raccoons em procyon lotor em carnivora procyonidae in iran strong p |
| topic | Fleas Guilan Province host-parasite association host-parasite relationship Ixodidae ticks. |
| url | https://www.biotaxa.org/pja/article/view/63915 |
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