Persian Journal of Acarology

Persian Journal of Acarology

A six-legged anomalous Dermacentor niveus (Acari: Ixodidae) female tick from a camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Uzbekistan

Document Type : Correspondence

Authors
Noureddine Mechouk 1
Alisher Safarov 2
Baurjan Kunisov 3
Alireza Sazmand 4
Georgiana Deak 5
1 Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăștur 3-5, 400372, Cluj Napoca, Romania
2 State Committee of Veterinary and Livestock Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
3 Nukus branch of Samarkand State University of Veterinary Medicine, Livestock and Biotechnology, Nukus, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.
4 Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran
5 University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca
10.22073/pja.v14i2.86888
Abstract
Uzbekistan hosts a diverse tick fauna comprising 30 species from the families Ixodidae and Argasidae. While tick morphology is generally well-documented, rare anomalies such as ectromely have been observed in natural populations. This study reports an abnormal malformation in a tick collected from a camel in Uzbekistan. One morphologically anomalous tick was collected from a camel in Navoiy, Uzbekistan, and submitted for morphological identification. The specimen was identified as an adult female Dermacentor niveus, displaying a morphological anomaly characterized by ectromely. This case highlights a rare occurrence of ectromely in D. niveus and underscores the need for larger studies to assess the prevalence of such anomalies and their potential role in pathogen transmission. Understanding these abnormalities could enhance tick surveillance and contribute to public health strategies. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an anomaly in D. niveus .
Keywords
Camelus dromedaries
Ectromely
Morphological anomaly
Pathogen transmission
Tick surveillance
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Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume 14, Issue 2
Spring 2025
Pages 357-360