Infestation modalities of Hyalomma aegyptium (Acari , Oxydidae) on the spurthighed tortoise Testudo graeca in semi-arid areas of Algeria

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H. AOURAGH¹, R. CHAIBI², A. SI BACHIR³*

¹ Department of Nature and Life Sciences, Faculty of Exact, Nature and Life Sciences, University Mohamed Khider, Biskra, Algeria

² Laboratory of Biological and Agronomic Sciences (LSBA), Faculty of Exact, Nature and Life Sciences, University Amar Telidji,Laghouat, Algeria

³ Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Mostefa Benboulaid, Batna 2, Algeria* Corresponding author: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ABSTRACT. – In semi-arid areas of the Saharan Atlas region in Algeria, 33 tortoises (Testudograeca) were examined for ticks in 2017-2018. All ticks found were adults and they were identifiedas Hyalomma aegyptium. For the total sample studied, the infestation prevalence was 63.6 %. The mean infestation intensity was 4.04 and the parasite abundance was 2.57. The infestationprevalence, the mean infestation intensity and the parasite abundance in female tortoises were higher than in males, but this variation was statistically insignificant. The number of ticks was positively and significantly correlated with tortoises’ body measurements: body weight,straight carapace length, carapace height, mid-body carapace width and plastron length. The parasitism by female and male ticks separately was not statistically significant. A total of 40 %of ticks were found attached to the hind limbs, 37.7 % to the forelimbs, 10.6 % to the neck, 11.7% to the tail, and no individuals were detected on the carapace. Statistically, the forelimbsand the neck were the preferred attachment areas for H. aegyptium.

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