title: Infestation of the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) by Hyalomma aegyptium in Tunisia.
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.
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors: Mohamed
authors: M
authors: Gharbi
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. Electronic address: medridharjeibi@yahoo.fr.
authors: Mohamed Ridha
authors: MR
authors: Rjeibi
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors: Mariem
authors: M
authors: Rouatbi
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors: Moez
authors: M
authors: Mabrouk
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors: Moez
authors: M
authors: Mhadhbi
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors: Safa
authors: S
authors: Amairia
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors: Yosra
authors: Y
authors: Amdouni
authors: Laboratoire de Parasitologie, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de la Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors: Mohamed Anis
authors: MA
authors: Boussaadoun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014426:Turtles / Q000469:parasitology*
keywords: Hyalomma aegyptium; Testudo graeca; Ticks; Tunisia