The Caspian red deer, Cervus elaphus maral (Mammalia: Cervidae): a new host record for Rhipicephalus ( Boophilus ) annulatus (Acari: Ixodidae) in northern Iran

Thirty tick samples were collected from a Caspian red deer in forested areas of Talesh County, Lisar protected area, Gilan province, northern Iran. Tick samples were examined according to morphological characters. In order to specific identification, a fragment (ca. 800-bp) of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and a 340-bp fragment of mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene were amplified by PCR. Nucleotide sequences were analyzed with BLASTn in GenBank. Adult tick samples were identified as female of the genus (subgenus): Rhipicephalus (Boophilus). The results of BLASTn showed that the female ticks belonged to the species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus. Our results confirmed the presence of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus on Cervus elaphus maral representing the first tick infestation record of the Caspian red deer in Iran. The results suggest a possible establishment of this vector species in a wildlife environment.