Tick-borne pathogens in Iran: A meta-analysis

Mehdi Khoobdel; Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat; Amir Sajad Jafari; Zakkyeh Telmadarraiy; Hasan Bakhshi

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Tick-borne pathogens in Iran: A meta-analysis

Author: Mehdi KHOOBDEL ¹ ; Mohammad Mehdi SEDAGHAT ¹ ; Amir Sajad JAFARI ² ; Zakkyeh TELMADARRAIY ³ ; Hasan BAKHSHI ⁴
Author Information

1. Health Research Center, LifeStyle Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences
2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zabol
3. Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
4. Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Iran; Tick-borne diseases; Ticks; Vector-borne diseases
From: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2021;14(11):486-504
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective: Different studies have been performed on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in different areas of Iran; however, as far as our knowledge, there is no regional meta-analysis available for consideration and estimation of tick species infected with different pathogens in Iran. Methods: In this review, among different databases, a total of 95 publications were included, and the infection of different tick species to different tick-borne pathogens was determined; furthermore, presence of pathogens (with 95% confidence intervals) in tick vectors was calculated separately for each province, using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2 (Biostat, USA). Results: Totally, among all 95 studies, 5 673 out of 33 521 investigated ticks were positive according to different detection methods. Overall estimated presence of pathogens in tick vectors in Iran was 8.6% (95% CI 7.0%-10.6%, P 0.001). Of all 46 species of ticks in 10 genera in Iran, 28 species in 9 genera, including Alveonasus, Argas, Boophilus, Dermacentor, Haemaphysalis, Hyalomma, Ixodes, Ornithodoros, and Rhipicephalus were infected with at least 20 pathogens in 10 genera including Aegyptianella, Anaplasma, Babesia, Borrelia, Brucella, Orthonairovirus [CrimeanCongo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV)], Coxiella, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Theileria in 26 provinces of Iran. The presence of pathogens in ticks collected in western Iran was more than other regions. Hyalomma anatolicum (20.35%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (15.00%), and Rhipicephalus bursa (14.08%) were the most prevalent infected ticks for different pathogens. In addition, most literatures were related to CCHFV and Theileria/Babesia spp. Conclusions: Public health and veterinary professionals should be aware of diagnosing possible diseases or outbreaks in vertebrates.