1. A first record of the tortoise tick, Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus 1758) on Malta
- Author
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Patrick J. Schembri, Iolanda Moretta, Luke Sultana Loporto, and Giulia Morganti
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Testudo ,tortoise tick ,biology ,Tortoise ,Malta ,030231 tropical medicine ,Genus Testudo ,Zoology ,North africa ,030108 mycology & parasitology ,Tick ,biology.organism_classification ,Testudo graeca ,Hyalomma aegyptium ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Testudo kleinmanni ,Insect Science ,Acari - Abstract
Tortoises of the genus Testudo are commonly kept pets on the Maltese Islands. This is a first record of the presence of Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus 1758), also known as the “tortoise tick,” on Malta. Two male H. aegyptium were collected from an adult Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca Linnaeus 1758) and a further two male H. aegyptium were collected from an adult female Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni Lortet 1883). These tortoises were believed to be illegally imported, wild-caught specimens from North Africa. The presence of H. aegyptium on Malta is of both biological and medical relevance since these ticks are known potential vectors for numerous zoonotic diseases. This is also believed to be the first record of T. kleinmanni as a host for H. aegyptium.
- Published
- 2017
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