Updated checklist, morphological descriptions, hosts and vector potential of ticks (Acari: Argasidae, Ixodidae) in Pakistan

Ticks are serious threats to humans, companion and domestic animals, and wildlife throughout the world. Situated in a subtropical region, Pakistan has favorable climatic conditions for various tick species. In Pakistan, ticks cause large but unknown economic losses to both the livestock sector and dairy industry in the form of animal mortality and reduction in dairy products.

There is a scarcity of critical knowledge concerning the morphological descriptions, hosts, and vector potential of ticks in Pakistan. To fill this knowledge gap, our study provides current information on the hosts and vector potential of Pakistani ticks, together with a list of tick species occurring in the country. This checklist comprises 49 tick species, 11 belonging to the family Argasidae, and 38 belonging to the family Ixodidae.

Of these, 5 argasids and 23 ixodids are redescribed and illustrated here, based on recent collections. Two species— Argas hermanni and Dermacentor montanus — are reported and redescribed for the first time in Pakistan. The spatial distribution, hosts and tick-borne pathogens known for each species are briefly discussed.