Hyalomma aegyptium as a dominant tick on certain tortoises of the testudo graeca in Erbil Province-Kurdistan Region-Iraq

Abstract EN

Ticks are obligatory blood-sucking arachnid arthropods infecting mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Hyalomma aegyptium parasites tortoises and other animals.

The main objective of the current study was to determine and identify prevalence of ticks on certain tortoises in Erbil province-Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

The study was carried out over a four months period from the beginning of March to the beginning of July 2010.

A total of 18 tortoises were sampled from certain places of Erbil province (Koya, Bastora, Kalak and Graw).

The captured tortoises were inspected closely for the presence of ticks with naked eyes, magnifying lens, dissecting microscope and light microscope.

And also, sites of tick attachment were recorded.

Out of 18 examined tortoises, 14 of them were infested with ticks.

A total of 123 ticks were collected from infested tortoises.

The infestation rates and mean intensity of male and female tortoises was 75%, 80% and 9.5, 8.25 respectively.

According to the gender of the isolated ticks, male ticks (71) were found from more tortoises than were females (52).

Ticks were attached to the neck and axilla of fore and hind legs of tortoises.

All ticks were determined to be H.

aegyptium, it was considered as a first record on the tortoises in Kurdistan Region.