Epidemiological and morphological studies on hyalomma species infesting dromedary Camels in Aswan governorate, Egypt

Abstract EN

The study evaluated the hard ticks' prevalence parasitizing dromedary camels (Camelus dromedaries) in Aswan governorate from July 2020 to August 2021.

of 1190 camels examined 1060 (89%) were infested.

factors were camel age, sex, infested site, and seasonal variations association with the tick distribution, as camels > 10 years were at higher risk rate of 97% (390 / 410).

the infestation rate was 90% (990 / 1100) in males and 77.8% (70 / 90) in females.

exposure to infestation was higher in summer 93.7% (458 / 489) than other seasons.

the face, udder, testes, hind limbs, and tail were the most infested site 97.5% (1160 / 1190) for each, followed by fore- limbs was 96.6% (1150 / 1190), chest was 94% (1120 / 1190), and abdomen was 92.4% (1100 / 1190).

statistical analysis of the possible associated risk factors, camel's age, gender, sampling season, and infested parts within animal body were all found to be significantly affected and related to hard tick distribution (p < 0.05).

also, the identification and morphological characterization of the isolated hard ticks were performed using stereomicroscope.