Ectoparasites, such as ticks, modulate host population dynamics by impacting demographic traits. They transmit infectious agents among their hosts, posing a critical threat to animal and public health. This study aimed to characterize and analyze the Hyalomma aegyptium infestation on one of its main hosts, the spur-thighed tortoise, its effects on demographic traits, and to determine the diversity of infectious agents present in both ticks and tortoises in the Maamora forest (northwestern Morocco). Our results show that 100% of the tortoises were parasitized by adult ticks in spring, an infestation intensity of 4 ticks/tortoise (5.1 and 3.6 ticks/tortoise in males and females, respectively; 4.2 and 3.3 ticks/tortoise in gravid and non-gravid females, respectively) and an abundance ranging from 1 to 12. Although without significant differences, male tortoises had higher tick abundances than females. The interaction of tortoise sex and body condition was significantly related to tick abundance, male body condition decreased with higher tick abundance in contrast to females. Nevertheless, the interaction of body condition and reproductive stage of females was not significantly related to tick abundance. Gravid females were significantly associated with tick abundance, showing a slightly higher infestation than non-gravid females. Molecular analysis of pooled tick samples revealed the presence of Ehrlichia ewingii, Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii, and Rickettsia africae, with a minimum infection rate of 0.61 to 1.84%. However, blood sample analysis of the tortoises was infectious agent-free, pinpointing a lack of significant health problems. Given the possible effect on the transmission of zoonotic diseases by spur-thighed tortoises associated with their frequent collection as pets, it should be surveyed to control possible human health problems. In conservation terms, as a long-lived species, the role of tick infestation in demographic traits might be included in the management and conservation programs of spur-thighed tortoises.

蜱虫等体外寄生虫通过影响人口特征来调节宿主种群动态。它们在宿主之间传播传染源，对动物和公共卫生构成严重威胁。本研究旨在表征和分析其主要宿主之一——马刺陆龟上的埃及透明虫感染及其对人口特征的影响，并确定马莫拉森林（西北地区）蜱和陆龟中存在的传染源的多样性。摩洛哥）。我们的研究结果表明，春季100%的陆龟都被成年蜱虫寄生，侵染强度为4只蜱/龟（雄性和雌性分别为5.1和3.6只蜱/龟；怀孕和未怀孕的龟为4.2和3.3蜱/龟）。怀孕的雌性陆龟），丰度范围为 1 到 12。虽然没有显着差异，但雄性陆龟的蜱丰度高于雌性。陆龟性别和身体状况的相互作用与蜱丰度显着相关，与雌性相比，雄性陆龟的身体状况随着蜱丰度的增加而下降。然而，雌性身体状况和生殖阶段的相互作用与蜱丰度没有显着相关。怀孕的雌性与蜱的丰度显着相关，其感染率略高于未怀孕的雌性。对混合蜱样本的分子分析显示，存在尤氏埃利希体、线粒体念珠菌和非洲立克次体，最低感染率为 0.61% 至 1.84%。然而，对乌龟的血液样本分析显示没有传染性病原体，这表明没有重大的健康问题。鉴于经常饲养短腿龟作为宠物可能对人畜共患疾病的传播产生影响，因此应对其进行调查以控制可能的人类健康问题。在保护方面，作为一种长寿物种，蜱虫感染在人口特征中的作用可能会被纳入马刺陆龟的管理和保护计划中。