Phenology and phylogeny of Hyalomma dromedarii in the Sahara of South Tunisia and tick-borne pathogens in camels

Khawla Elati, Faten Bouaicha, Boubaker Ben Smida, Mokhtar Dhibi, Mohsen Bouajila, Mourad Rekik, Mohamed Gharbi. (26/2/2019). Phenology and phylogeny of Hyalomma dromedarii in the Sahara of South Tunisia and tick-borne pathogens in camels.

Abstract

The general objectives of the current study were to study the biology of Hyalomma dromedarii in its natural environment and to survey the pathogens it transmits. In the first part, we were interested to investigate the activity dynamics of H. dromedarii and the characterization of the abiotic factors where free-living specimens were collected. Then the life cycle of H. dromedarii in natural conditions will be established and the phylogenetic analyses of the tick population will be conducted. The second part of this survey aimed to perform a survey to test for circulation of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus in camels and ticks in southern Tunisia, and to determine the vectorial capacity of Hyalomma dromedarii.