Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2473934 | Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases | 2015 | 4 Pages |
Abstract
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.
Keywords
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Authors
Mohamed Gharbi, Mohamed Ridha Rjeibi, Mariem Rouatbi, Moez Mabrouk, Moez Mhadhbi, Safa Amairia, Yosra Amdouni, Mohamed Anis Boussaadoun,