Infestation of the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) by Hyalomma aegyptium in Tunisia

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
Mohamed GharbiMohamed Anis Boussaadoun

Abstract

We examined 210 spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca) for the presence of ticks in Tunisia during May 2014. A total number of 602 adult ticks were collected and identified leading to the estimation of parasitological indicators. All the ticks belonged to a single species: Hyalomma aegyptium. The mean infestation prevalence was 66.2%, mean overall infestation intensity and abundance were 4.33 and 2.86 ticks/tortoise respectively. Our survey showed that tortoises were significantly more infested by male ticks than females (p<0.001). The ticks were mainly present in the posterior limbs compared to other body regions (p<0.05). There was no significance variation of length and weight of tortoises according to sex (p<0.05). There was a significant correlation between the tortoises' size (length and weight) and tick infestation. This study showed high tick burdens of spur-thighed tortoises in Tunisia; further investigations are needed to determine exactly the role of this tick species in the transmission of different zoonotic pathogens.

References

Mar 25, 2011·Experimental & Applied Acarology·Pavel SirokýMartin Kamler
Feb 11, 2014·Parasite : Journal De La Société Française De Parasitologie·Mohamed Gharbi, Mohamed Aziz Darghouth
Mar 21, 2015·Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases·Mohamed GharbiMohamed Anis Boussaadoun

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Citations

May 25, 2016·Medical and Veterinary Entomology·G TiarP Široký
Mar 21, 2015·Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases·Mohamed GharbiMohamed Anis Boussaadoun
May 14, 2020·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Chawki NajjarElyes Zhioua
Jun 15, 2019·Parasite : Journal De La Société Française De Parasitologie·Wasfi FaresElyes Zhioua

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