First record of(Ixodoidea: Argasidae) andsp. (Ixodoidea: Ixodidae) in Pakistan.

Abstract

species are soft ticks primarily infesting birds, such as swallows, whilespecies are hard ticks mainly infesting mammals, such as small ruminants. This study for the first time reported on the morphological and molecular bases of two tick species, namelyand asp. in Pakistan. The former species was examined in swallows' nests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, while the latter species was examined in small ruminants in Balochistan province. In total, 25 ticks were collected, with 14 ticks morphologically identified as(males = 9 and females = 5) and 11 ticks identified assp. (males = 7 and females = 4). Following morphological identification, molecular identification was gained by obtaining 16S rDNA andsequences for these ticks. The BLAST results for the 16S rDNA andsequences fromshared a maximum identity of 97.46% and 96.49% with the same species from Malta. The BLAST analysis of the 16S rDNA andsequences fromsp. showed maximum identities of 98.42% and 97.45% withfrom China. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA andofshowed a close evolutionary relationship with the same species. The case ofsp., based on 16S DNA and, indicated a close evolutionary relationship withfrom China.