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The spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca L., 1758) is classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. In this context, it is important to explore the factors affecting its populations to set up an effective conservation plan. The present study was carried out in seven localities of Morocco with the objective to determine the ticks parasitizing this tortoise and their prevalence in relation to host characteristics and environmental factors. We examined 392 free-living tortoises for the presence of ticks during the spring 2018. A total number of 2238 adult ticks (no immature tick detected) were collected and all identified as Hyalomma aegyptium. Infection with at least one tick was detected in 77.6% ± 6.5 of the total tortoises. The infestation prevalence varied according to localities. Infestation intensity varied from 1.5 to 12, while tick abundance ranged from 0.65 to 12 ticks/tortoise. Male tortoises were more infested than females (P < 0.01) and the infestation was age-dependant. Our statistical result provides that the best model drivers tick parasitism was which included locality and age. Further studies are needed to assess the impact of the high intensity of H. aegyptium infestation on the tortoise's health status and to assess the potential transmission of zoonotic pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present study was to evaluate under laboratory conditions the toxicity of essential oils (EOs) extracted from Mentha suaveolens L. subsp. timija (Briq.) Harley, Chenopodium ambrosioides L. and Laurus nobilis L. against Varroa destructor adult mites. Also, various combinations were prepared by mixing equal concentrations of any two and all three studied EOs and used to evaluate the combinational acaricidal effects of mixtures against adult Varroa mites. The GC/MS analysis indicated that the main chemical compounds of M. suaveolens subsp. timija EO were menthone (40.42%) and pulegone (19.22%), whereas C. ambrosioides EO is rich in α-terpinene (34.08%), isoascaridol (13.6%), p-cymene (10.95%), thymol (10.26%), ascaridole (10.25%) and carvacrol (7.75%). L. nobilis EO is mainly composed with 1,8-cineol (37.5%) and linalool (14.09%). The fumigation bioassays showed that the three tested EOs showed varroacidal toxicity, whereas no mortality has been observed on honey bees that were exposed to their higher concentrations. The highest acaricidal potency was observed with M. suaveolens subsp. timija (LD50 = 3.360 µl/Lair and LD90 = 7.300 µl/Lair). According to the combination index (CI) calculated by CompuSyn software, the ternary blend combination exhibited high synergistic effectiveness with a CI value of 0.343. All combinations have shown favorable dose reduction with DRI indexes greater than one. Our findings suggest that EO combinations tested could present a promising solution to reduce the effective doses of EOs and constitute a promising alternative to synthetic acaricides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites in wild Testudo graeca tortoises in Morocco. A total of 102 tortoises sampled in two arid areas: Central Jbilets Mountains (CJM) and Sidi Kaouki Forest (SKF) were macroscopically examined and subjected to qualitative (flotation and Baermann techniques) and quantitative (McMaster technique) microscopic examinations. The identified gastrointestinal parasites belong to two nematode families (Pharyngodonidae and Ascarididae) and three protozoa families (Balantidiidae, Eimeriidae and Entamoebidae). 92.1% of tortoises were determined to harbor one or more parasite types. Oxyurid adults were the most frequently encountered with a prevalence of 22.7% and 72.4% in CJM and SKF, respectively. Nematode eggs were found in almost all individuals of both populations studied. The prevalence of protozoa was 9.1% and 3.4% in CJM and SKF, respectively. Oxyurid adults showed the highest intensity in SKF (36.5 ± 30.2) whereas, ascarid adults are absent in CJM. Statistical analysis showed that the prevalence of infection by ascarids was significantly higher in adults than in juveniles. The intensity of infection by ascarid and oxyurid eggs differed significantly between sexes and localities, respectively. Our results showed a difference of infection between the two localities, which could be in relation with habitat quality. SKF is affected by both agriculture and overgrazing. In addition, the tortoises from this locality are active for a large part of the year, which increases their chance of encountering the parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infestation by ticks affects several vertebrate groups, including tortoises. Testudo species are among chelonian fauna that are infested in their natural habitat by several tick species, with Hyalomma aegyptium as the dominant one. We report a heavy tick infestation found in female T. graeca in May 2018 in Had Draa (Essaouira region, Morocco). The female, with carapace length of 175 mm and body weight of 779.3 g was found to be infested by 288 H. aegyptium in different stages. It was more infested by female ticks than males, and the hind limbs (59.6%) and forelimbs (30.25%) were the most frequent predilection sites of ticks. Our data provide the first record of massive parasitism by H. aegyptium in this vulnerable and threatened tortoise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]