The significance of ixodid ticks research in the epizootology of blood parasitic diseases

The article clarifies the species composition of pathogens of blood parasitic diseases in cattle in various regions of Azerbaijan. As a result of studies of peripheral blood smears of cattle, organs and eggs of ixodid ticks, we have established the spread of four types of pathogens of blood parasitic diseases: Piroplasma bigeminum, Babesia (Francaiella) colchica, Theileria annulata and Anaplasma marginale. Microscopic examination of the salivary glands, ovaries, intestines and malpighian vessels, as well as the eggs of the Hyalomma anatolicum, H. plumbeum, Boophilus calcaratus, Ixodes ricinus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected from sick and clinically healthy animals, in addition to the parasites detected in the blood, additionally revealed other types of parasites. Thus, Babesia caucasica was found in Ixodes ricinus ticks, Theileria mutans in Hyalomma anatolicum; in ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus - the causative agent of piroplasmosis in dogs Piroplasma canis. Of great practical and scientific interest is the identification of the parasite in the eggs and organs of the tick Boophilus calcaratus. This species of parasite is not described in the world catalog of piroplasmids and differs sharply from piroplasmas and babesias, which are carried by Boophilus calcaratus, in terms of morphological features and intensity of invasion. We designated this parasite in the article as Babesia sp.