Ixodid ticks are vectors of pathogens that cause dangerous infectious and parasitic diseases in animals, leading to reduced productivity and, in some cases, mass mortality. In Kazakhstan, information on tick fauna and their epizootological role in the transmission of hemoparasites is limited. This study aimed to determine the species composition of ixodid ticks parasitizing cattle in the Almaty, Zhambyl, and Turkistan oblasts, and to assess their potential role in the transmission of Theileria and Anaplasma spp. A total of 3121 ixodid ticks were collected from cattle, belonging to the genera Hyalomma (86.9%; 2711/3121), Rhipicephalus (8.5%; 266/3121), Dermacentor (3.2%; 101/3121), and Haemaphysalis (1.4%; 43/3121). Morphological identification revealed that ticks of the genus Hyalomma, including Hyalomma scupense (31.7%), Hyalomma asiaticum (27.9%), and Hyalomma anatolicum (19.6%), were the predominant species. Rhipicephalus annulatus was recorded for the first time in the Almaty and Zhambyl oblasts. Partial sequencing of the cox1 gene confirmed the species identification obtained by morphological examination. A total of 113 representative ticks were subjected to DNA extraction for the identification of Theileria and Anaplasma species using conventional PCR with primers targeting the 28SrRNA and GroEL genes, respectively. No Anaplasma spp. were detected in the analyzed tick samples. Theileria annulata DNA was identified in seven nymphs of Hy. scupense (6.1%) collected in the Zhambyl oblast, and for the first time in Kazakhstan, in one female Rhipicephalus annulatus (0.9%) collected in the Almaty oblast. The overall infection prevalence of Theileria annulata was 7.0% (8/113).

Blood-sucking ticks are vectors of protozoal, bacterial, viral and rickettsial diseases. The study of ixodes ticks: fauna, ecology, biology is of great importance not only for epidemiology but is also of scientific interest. Changes in natural and climatic conditions, hydrological regime, rapid development of human economic activities lead to the changes in the fauna of invertebrates including ixodid ticks. As they invade new territories ticks may expand their habitats for these dangerous for animals and humans infections. That is why the study of tick fauna, changes in species diversity of ticks and monitoring of their abundance is so important for monitoring of natural foci. The emergence of a new species of ixodid tick Rhipicephalus annulatus, in western Kazakhstan, which began to be registered from 2019 in Kurmangazy district of Atyrau region, bordering the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation and its re-finding in 2020 is a very important fact to assess the epidemiological danger for humans and animals in this territory.