Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in Tunisia
Free-ranging spur-thighed tortoises Testudo graeca, captured in different habitat types of Northern Tunisia from March to April 2017, were examined for tick infestation: 134/147 (91%) were infested. The overall infestation intensity and abundance was 8.5 and 7.8, respectively. From these tortoises,...
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| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Parasite |
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| Online Access: | https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2019/01/parasite190051/parasite190051.html |
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| author | Fares Wasfi Dachraoui Khalil Najjar Chawki Younsi Hend Findlay-Wilson Stephen Petretto Marie Dowall Stuart Hewson Roger Zhioua Elyes |
| author_facet | Fares Wasfi Dachraoui Khalil Najjar Chawki Younsi Hend Findlay-Wilson Stephen Petretto Marie Dowall Stuart Hewson Roger Zhioua Elyes |
| author_sort | Fares Wasfi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Free-ranging spur-thighed tortoises Testudo graeca, captured in different habitat types of Northern Tunisia from March to April 2017, were examined for tick infestation: 134/147 (91%) were infested. The overall infestation intensity and abundance was 8.5 and 7.8, respectively. From these tortoises, 1174 ticks were collected, of which 10% (n = 120) taken from 18 randomly-selected tortoises were identified at the species level; the remaining ticks were examined for the presence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFv) by real time RT-PCR. Only adult Hyalomma aegyptium were found, suggesting a high degree of host specificity to tortoises. No CCHFv was detected in ticks. Considering the absence of CCHFv in Hyalomma aegyptium infesting its main host, the spur-thighed tortoise, this tick species is unlikely to play a major role in the epidemiology of CCHF. Therefore, more studies are needed to investigate the circulation of this arbovirus between livestock and other tick species from North Africa. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:41:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1a974e56155d4b2d96d219d8155b787e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1776-1042 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:41:36Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasite |
| spelling | doaj.art-1a974e56155d4b2d96d219d8155b787e2023-12-02T16:31:16ZengEDP SciencesParasite1776-10422019-01-01263510.1051/parasite/2019036parasite190051Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in TunisiaFares WasfiDachraoui KhalilNajjar ChawkiYounsi HendFindlay-Wilson StephenPetretto MarieDowall StuartHewson RogerZhioua ElyesFree-ranging spur-thighed tortoises Testudo graeca, captured in different habitat types of Northern Tunisia from March to April 2017, were examined for tick infestation: 134/147 (91%) were infested. The overall infestation intensity and abundance was 8.5 and 7.8, respectively. From these tortoises, 1174 ticks were collected, of which 10% (n = 120) taken from 18 randomly-selected tortoises were identified at the species level; the remaining ticks were examined for the presence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFv) by real time RT-PCR. Only adult Hyalomma aegyptium were found, suggesting a high degree of host specificity to tortoises. No CCHFv was detected in ticks. Considering the absence of CCHFv in Hyalomma aegyptium infesting its main host, the spur-thighed tortoise, this tick species is unlikely to play a major role in the epidemiology of CCHF. Therefore, more studies are needed to investigate the circulation of this arbovirus between livestock and other tick species from North Africa.https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2019/01/parasite190051/parasite190051.htmlCrimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virusHyalomma aegyptiumTestudo graecaNorth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Fares Wasfi Dachraoui Khalil Najjar Chawki Younsi Hend Findlay-Wilson Stephen Petretto Marie Dowall Stuart Hewson Roger Zhioua Elyes Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in Tunisia Parasite Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus Hyalomma aegyptium Testudo graeca North Africa |
| title | Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in Tunisia |
| title_full | Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in Tunisia |
| title_short | Absence of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick Hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in Tunisia |
| title_sort | absence of crimean congo haemorrhagic fever virus in the tick hyalomma aegyptium parasitizing the spur thighed tortoise testudo graeca in tunisia |
| topic | Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus Hyalomma aegyptium Testudo graeca North Africa |
| url | https://www.parasite-journal.org/articles/parasite/full_html/2019/01/parasite190051/parasite190051.html |
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