First Report of the Ectoparasite Haemaphysalis parva Tick Infestation on Domestic Animals in Libya's North-east Coast

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Background: Ticks are critical vectors of pathogens impacting human and animal health. As such, precisely identifying tick species is essential to outline their geographic distribution and the disease-causing agents they transmit. Despite this critical need, comprehensive data on tick populations in Libya remains incomplete, limiting efforts to evaluate zoonotic risks and implement targeted public health measures. This study aimed to identify hard tick species infesting domestic animals in sites randomly selected on Libya's northeastern coast. Methods: Between December 2017 and May 2018, ticks were collected from ground habitats (farms, forests) and 61 domestic animals (sheep, goats, cows, and dogs) across six sites in Benghazi and the Green Mountain region. Ticks were carefully collected from the abdomen of a host using fine-tipped forceps to preserve diagnostic features, stored in 70% ethanol, and morphologically identified at Uppsala University using a stereomicroscope and taxonomic keys. Results: Out of 138 ticks analyzed, four species were identified: Rhipicephalus sanguineus (68.5%, n = 98), Rhipicephalus bursa (7.6%, n = 11), Hyalomma franchinii (6.2%, n = 9), and Haemaphysalis parva (13.9%, n = 20). The discovery of H. parva represents a novel finding, indicating its potential presence as a vector for tick-borne diseases in Libya. Conclusion: This study expands the knowledge of tick diversity in Libya, particularly highlighting the newly documented H. parva. This finding highlights the need for expanded surveillance to assess its role in pathogen transmission and inform public health strategies in Mediterranean ecosystems.