A new record of Ornithodoros (Pavlovskyella) verrucosus (Acari: Argasidae) from a porcupine burrow in western Iran

We found an Ornithodoros species with distinct morphological characteristics than Alveonasus genus and other O. ( Pavlovskyella ) species group. Tick specimens were collected from a porcupine burrow, located in Lorestan province, western Iran. Genomic DNA of tick was extracted using CTAB and then three gene fragments of cytochrome oxidase subunit I ( COI ) and 16S mtDNA & 18S rDNA were amplified by PCR. Tick specimens were identified as near to O. ( P. ) verrucosus and O. ( P. ) tholozani . So the identification was confirmed by BLAST analysis of 16S mtDNA & 18S rDNA and COI gene fragments. A taxonomic key to the native adult subfamily Ornithodorinae species of Iran are provided to facilitate their identification.