Molecular identification and morphological variations of Amblyomma lepidum imported to Egypt, with notes about its potential distribution under climate change
The tick Amblyomma lepidum is an ectoparasite of veterinary importance due to its role in transmitting livestock diseases in Africa, including heartwater. This study was conducted in 2023 to monitor Amblyomma spp. infestation in dromedary camels imported from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan to Egypt. T...
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Published in | Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 123; no. 7; p. 276 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Berlin/Heidelberg
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2024
Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The tick
Amblyomma lepidum
is an ectoparasite of veterinary importance due to its role in transmitting livestock diseases in Africa, including heartwater. This study was conducted in 2023 to monitor
Amblyomma
spp. infestation in dromedary camels imported from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Sudan to Egypt. This study inspected 200 camels at the Giza governorate’s camel market that had been imported from Somalia, 200 from Ethiopia, and 200 from Sudan for tick infestation. Specimens were identified using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the 12S and 16S rRNA genes. Clusters were calculated using an unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) dendrogram to group the specimens according to their morphometric characteristics. The morphometric analysis compared the body shape of ticks collected from different countries by analyzing dorsal features. Principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical variate analysis (CVA) were performed to obtain body shape variation among specimens from different countries. Results indicated that camels were infested by 57 males
Amblyomma lepidum
, and no female specimens were observed; among these specimens, one may have a morphological abnormality. The results suggest that
A. lepidum
specimens collected from camels imported to Egypt from African countries exhibit locally adapted morphology with variations among specimens, particularly variations in body size. This adaptation suggests minimal potential for genetic divergence. Ecological niche modeling was used to predict the areas in Africa with suitable climates for
A. lepidum
. The study confirmed that East African countries might have the most favorable climatic conditions for
A. lepidum
to thrive. Interestingly, the amount of rain during the wettest quarter (Bio16) had the strongest influence on the tick’s potential distribution, with suitability decreasing sharply as rainfall increased. Future predictions indicate that the climatic habitat suitability for
A. lepidum
will decrease under changing climate conditions. However, historical, current, and future predictions indicate no suitable climatic habitats for
A. lepidum
in Egypt. These findings demand continuous surveillance of
A. lepidum
in camel populations and the development of targeted strategies to manage tick infestations and prevent the spread of heartwater disease. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Section Editor: Marcos Antonio Bezerra Santos. |
ISSN: | 0932-0113 1432-1955 1432-1955 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00436-024-08284-0 |