Molecular Detection of <i>Babesia</i> spp. and <i>Theileria</i> spp. in Ticks Collected from Livestock in Ardabil Province, Northwestern Iran

Background: Babesia and Theileria are among the most important tick-borne parasites causing zoonotic diseases worldwide. Due to the suitable geographical conditions and the extensive livestock industry in Ardabil Province, this study aimed to the molecularly identify tick-borne parasites in northwestern Iran in 2024. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a comprehensive examination was conducted on 841 ticks collected from livestock to detect the presence of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. The study utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing to identify the tick-borne parasites. Sequence analysis was conducted using the data available in GenBank (PV449773, PV449749, PV493067, PV494101, and PV494132). Mega software (version 11) was used for genetic analysis. Results: A total of 841 ticks belonging to 211 herds of livestock were collected from 12 counties of Ardabil Province. Eleven tick species belonging to six genera were identified. The most abundant hard tick species was Rhipicephalus bursa (42.26%), while the most abundant soft tick species was Argas persicus (98.93%). PCR method analyses showed that out of 26 pooled samples, 6 (23.07%) pools were positive for 18S rRNA Babesia spp., and 4 (15.38%) pools were positive for Theileria spp. Conclusion: This study confirmed the presence of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. parasites in ticks collected from Ardabil Province. The results demonstrated the occurrence of these pathogens, posing a potential risk to both livestock and human health. These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and preventive measures to control tick-borne diseases in the region.