Hyalomma dromedarii is a species of hard-bodied ticks belonging to the family Ixodidae.[1]

Hyalomma dromedarii
Hyalomma dromedarii from Libya. Museum specimen
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Ixodida
Family: Ixodidae
Genus: Hyalomma
Species:
H. dromedarii
Binomial name
Hyalomma dromedarii
Synonyms
  • Ixodes camelinus Fischer von Waldheim, 1823
  • Ixodes arenicola Eichwald, 1830
  • Ixodes trilineatus Lucas, 1836
  • Ixodes cinctus Lucas, 1840 nec Fabricius, 1805
  • Hyalomma yakimovi Olenev, 1931

Description

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The dorsal shield (conscutum) of males can reach a length of 3.7–5.78 millimetres (0.146–0.228 in). These hard-bodied ticks are broadly oval in shape. The basic color is yellow- to red-brown.[2]

This species is closely associated with camels, that are the main hosts of the adults, which may also parasitize other domestic animals. Nymphs and larvae are associated with the same hosts, but can also parasitize rodents, hedgehogs and birds.[2]

This species is ascribed with spreading the virus that causes the life-threatening Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.[3] The bites cause the surrounding tissue to die and become necrotic. The dead tissue falls out of the body after a few days. The wounds look very serious, but usually heal without any intervention and do not generally become infected any further.

Distribution

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Hyalomma dromedarii is widespread in North Africa, the northern regions of West, Central, and East Africa, Arabia, Asia Minor, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia.[2]

Hosts

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H. dromedarii is known from equids,[4] camels and cattle.[5]

As a vector

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African Horse Sickness

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H. dromedarii can carry the African Horse Sickness Virus. Awad et al. 1981 and Salma et al. 1987 isolated the virus from individuals in Egypt, and find indications that they may vector it between horses. Awad further found it is transmitted transstadially, larva → nymph and nymph → adult, but not vertically.[4]

Theileria

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Samish and Pipono 1978 and Ica et al 2007 find the tick vectoring Theileria annulata between cattle. Hoogstraal et al 1981 find the same for T. camelensis and camels.[5]

Semiochemistry

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Females secrete 2,6-Dichlorophenol/2,6-DCP as an attractant to males. (Several others of this genus are known to do the same.) Successful attraction is concentration dependent: For example, H. dromedarii males and H. anatolicum excavatum males are not attracted by the same concentrations. H. a. excavatum males are actually repelled by H. dromedarii concentrations.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Biolib
  2. ^ a b c Apanaskevich, Dmitry A.; Schuster, Anthony L.; Horak, Ivan G. (2008). "The genus Hyalomma: VII. Redescription of all parasitic stages of H. (Euhyalomma) dromedarii and H. (E.) schulzei (Acari: Ixodidae)". Journal of Medical Entomology. 45 (5): 817–831. doi:10.1093/jmedent/45.5.817. PMID 18826023.
  3. ^ Logan, Thomas M.; Linthicum, Kenneth J.; Bailey, Charles L.; Watts, Douglas M.; Dohm, David J.; Moulton, James R. (1990). "Replication of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus in four species of ixodid ticks (Acari) infected experimentally". Journal of Medical Entomology. 27 (4): 537–542. doi:10.1093/jmedent/27.4.537. PMID 2117664.
  4. ^ a b Carpenter, Simon; Mellor, Philip S.; Fall, Assane G.; Garros, Claire; Venter, Gert J. (2017-01-31). "African Horse Sickness Virus: History, transmission, and current status". Annual Review of Entomology. 62 (1): 343–358. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-031616-035010. PMID 28141961.
  5. ^ a b Kumar, Binod; Manjunathachar, Haranahally Vasanthachar; Ghosh, Srikanta (2020). "A review on Hyalomma species infestations on human and animals and progress on management strategies". Heliyon. 6 (12). Cell Press: e05675. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05675. ISSN 2405-8440. PMC 7726666. PMID 33319114.
  6. ^ Sonenshine, Daniel E. (2006-01-01). "Tick pheromones and their use in tick control". Annual Review of Entomology. 51 (1): 557–580. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151150. PMID 16332223.
  • ELGhali, A.; Hassan, S.M. (2010). "Life cycle of the camel tick Hyalomma dromedarii (Acari: Ixodidae) under field conditions in Northern Sudan". Veterinary Parasitology. 174 (3–4): 305–312. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.08.028. PMID 20850935.