Prevalence and Identification of Livestock Tick by Sex Ratio and Host in Tehran Province

BACKGROUND: Ticks are major ectoparasites affecting livestock health and productivity. Their sex ratio and host specificity influence pathogen transmission. OBJECTIVE: To identify tick species and determine sex ratios across different host animals in Tehran Province, Iran. METHODS: Ticks are one of the main risk factors in transmitting pathogens to livestock and humans. From a total of 1623 animals, 806 ticks were collected, of which 685 were hard ticks and 121 were soft ticks. Ticks were sexed and identified using morphological keys. RESULTS: Females comprised 57.99% and males 42.01% of ticks. Sheep had the highest infestation rate (60.04%), cattle the lowest (0.62%). Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato was the most prevalent species (39.96%). CONCLUSION: High sheep infestation and dominance of R. sanguineus highlight the need for targeted tick control to reduce disease risks and economic loss in livestock.