Spatio-seasonal variation in Hyalomma aegyptium infestation of Testudo graeca in the Sénalba Chergui forest of Djelfa (Algeria): main and interactive effects of body size, sex, and microhabitat
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.5172Keywords:
forest, Sénalba Chergui, prevalence, parasitism, Testudo graeca, Hyalomma aegyptiumAbstract
This study aims to analyze the biological and environmental factors associated with infestation by the tick Hyalomma aegyptium in the tortoise Testudo graeca in the Sénalba Chergui forest (Djelfa, Algeria). A total of 150 tortoises were examined, and 1128 ticks were collected. Taxonomic identification demonstrated that all tick specimens belonged exclusively to the species Hyalomma aegyptium. The overall prevalence rate was determined to be 97.33%, while mean intensity and mean abundance were estimated at 7.73 and 7.52 ticks per individual, respectively. Infestation of Testudo graeca by Hyalomma aegyptium in the Sénalba Chergui forest is nearly generalized, intense, and strongly structured by ecological and biological conditions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant effects of season, sex, and their interaction on prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance. Analysis based on a generalized linear model with a Poisson distribution demonstrated that parasitic infestation increased considerably with increasing body size and varied according to microhabitat. The highest values were observed in microhabitats characterized by litter, shelters, and shrub cover. Furthermore, the chi-square test revealed a significant variation in parasite load according to study sites and seasons. However, the interaction between body size and microhabitat did not show an overall significant effect. The uniqueness of this study resides in its focus on interaction effects, especially between season and sex, underscoring that parasite dynamics are shaped not only by individual biological and environmental factors but also by their interactions. These results suggest that infestation dynamics are based on a close interaction between parasite phenology, host ecology, and environmental heterogeneity. By emphasizing the determining role of habitat microconditions in the maintenance and intensification of parasitism.
References
[1] Aouragh, H., Chaibi, R., & Si Bachir, A. (2020). Infestation modalities of Hyalomma aegyptium (Acari, Oxydidae) on the spur-thighed tortoise Testudo graeca in semiarid areas of Algeria. Life and Environment, 70(2), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.57890/ee0whf22
[2] Apanaskevich, D. A. (2003). K diagnostike vida Hyalomma (Hyalomma) aegyptium (Acari, Ixodidae) [To diagnostics of Hyalomma (Hyalomma) aegyptium (Acari: Ixodidae)]. Parazitologiya, 37, 47–59.
[3] Bush, A. O., Lafferty, K. D., Lotz, J. M., & Shostak, A. W. (1997). Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. Journal of Parasitology, 83(4), 575–583. https://doi.org/10.2307/3284227
[4] Chakali, G. (2007). Stratégie d’attaque de l’hylésine Tomicus destruens (Wollaston, 1865) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) sur le pin d’Alep en zone semi-aride (Algérie, Djelfa). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (N.S.), 43(2), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/00379271.2007.10697502
[5] Chapman, D. G. (1951). Some properties of the hypergeometric distribution with applications to zoological sample censuses. University of California Press.
[6] Gharbi, M., Rjeibi, M. R., Rouatbi, M., Mabrouk, M., Mhadhbi, M., Amairia, S., Amdouni, Y., & Boussaadoun, M. A. (2015). Infestation of the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) by Hyalomma aegyptium in Tunisia. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 6(3), 307–311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.02.009
[7] Hosseini-Chegeni, A., Hosseini, R., Tavakoli, M., Telmadarraiy, Z., & Abdigoudarzi, M. (2013). The Iranian Hyalomma (Acari: Ixodidae) with a key to the identification of male species. Persian Journal of Acarology, 2(4), 503–529.
[8] Kautman, M., Tiar, G., Papa, A., & Široký, P. (2016). AP92-like Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in Hyalomma aegyptium ticks, Algeria. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 22(2), 354–356. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2202.151528
[9] Laghzaoui, E.-M., Bouazza, A., Abbad, A., & El Mouden, E. H. (2022). Cross-sectional study of ticks in the vulnerable free-living spur-thighed tortoise Testudo graeca (Testudines: Testudinidae) from Morocco. International Journal of Acarology, 48(1), 74–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2021.2024595
[10] Meddour, A., & Meddour-Bouderda, K. (2006). Clés d’identification des Ixodina (Acarina) d’Algérie. Sciences & Technologie C, 24, 32–42.
[11] Kalmár, Z., Cozma, V., Sprong, H., Jahfari, S., D’Amico, G., Mărcuțan, D. I., Ionică, A. M., Magdaş, C., Modrý, D., & Mihalca, A. D. (2015). Transstadial transmission of Borrelia turcica in Hyalomma aegyptium ticks. PLOS ONE, 10(2), e0115520. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115520
[12] Kar, S., Donmez, B., Kilinc, B. R., Sakaci, Z., Talay, S., Bente, D., & Estrada-Peña, A. (2025). Behavioral and morphological adaptations of tortoise tick Hyalomma aegyptium to Testudo graeca: Evidence for complex evolutionary history. Ecology and Evolution, 15(8), e71995. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71995
[13] Rubel, F. (2025). Hyalomma aegyptium: Observed global distribution, imported specimens, preferred hosts and vector competence. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102438
[14] Segura, A., Delibes-Mateos, M., & Acevedo, P. (2020). Implications for conservation of collection of Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise as pets in Morocco: Residents’ perceptions, habits, and knowledge. Animals, 10(2), Article 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020265
[15] Segura, A., Rodríguez, O., Ruiz-Fons, F., & Acevedo, P. (2019). Tick parasitism in the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise in the Maamora forest, Morocco. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, 10(2), 221–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.002
[16] Široký, P., Petrželková, K. J., Kamler, M., Mihalca, A. D., & Modrý, D. (2006). Hyalomma aegyptium as dominant tick in tortoises of the genus Testudo in Balkan countries, with notes on its host preferences. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 40, 279–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-006-9036-z
[17] Široký, P., Kubelová, M., Modrý, D., Erhart, J., Literák, I., Špitalská, E., & Kocianová, E. (2010). Tortoise tick Hyalomma aegyptium as long term carrier of Q fever agent Coxiella burnetii—Evidence from experimental infection. Parasitology Research, 107(6), 1515–1520. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-2037-1
[18] Široký, P., Erhart, J., Petrželková, K. J., & Kamler, M. (2011). Life cycle of tortoise tick Hyalomma aegyptium under laboratory conditions. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 54(3), 277–284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-011-9442-8
[19] Stanford, C. B., Iverson, J. B., Rhodin, A. G. J., van Dijk, P. P., Mittermeier, R. A., Kuchling, G., Berry, K. H., Bertolero, A., Bjorndal, K. A., Blanck, T. E. G., Buhlmann, K. A., Burke, R. L., Congdon, J. D., Diagne, T., Edwards, T., Eisemberg, C., Ennen, J. R., Forero-Medina, G., Frankel, M., … Walde, A. D. (2020). Turtles and tortoises are in trouble. Current Biology, 30(12), R721–R735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.04.088
[20] Stubbs, D., Hailey, A., Pulford, E., & Tyler, W. (1984). Population ecology of European tortoises: Review of field techniques. Amphibia-Reptilia, 5(1), 57–68.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Computational and Experimental Science and Engineering
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
