Hyalomma spp.

Hyalomma spp.
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Arachnida
Sub-class	Acari
Super-order	Parasitiformes
Order	Ixodida
Super-family	Ixodidea
Family	Ixodidae
Genus	Hyalomma
Species	H. anatolicum, H. aegyptium and others

These are large ticks that are commonly found on the legs, udder, tail or perianal region of mammals. They are either two or three host ticks found in central Asia, southern Europe and North Africa.

Ticks of these species can identified by:

• Eyes present
• Long mouthparts
• Ventral plates around male anus
• Inornate
• Banded legs

Hyalomma anatolicum

Also known as:

Bont-legged tick

There are two subspecies known, H. anatolicum excavatum that is found in central Europe and Asia and H. anatolicum anatolicum which can be found throughout the rest of the range. These ticks cause tick toxicosis in Africa which is a sweating sickness seen in pigs and ruminants. This is accompanied by a profuse moist eczema and hyperaemia of the mucous membranes. This species can also be involved in the transmission of Theileria, Babesia spp. as well as Anaplasma marginale.

Hyalomma aegyptium

Also known as:

Tortoise tick

Infects tortoises in southern Europe and southwest Asia as well as lizards and occasionally dogs and horses. However this tick is being spread around the globe by the increasing pet trade in tortoises.

References

• http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/boophilus_microplus.pdf