Species Diversity and Infestation Patterns of Ixodid Ticks Associated with Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) under Arid and Semi-arid Conditions in Southern Algeria

Species Diversity and Infestation Patterns of Ixodid Ticks Associated with Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) under Arid and Semi-arid Conditions in Southern Algeria | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Species Diversity and Infestation Patterns of Ixodid Ticks Associated with Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) under Arid and Semi-arid Conditions in Southern Algeria Kouidri Mokhtaria, Achour Hamza, Sidi Mohammed Ammar Selles, Bia Taha, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583758/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Ixodid ticks infesting camels act as vectors of tick-borne diseases, which pose significant public health challenges and cause considerable socio-economic losses to the livestock industry in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to identify the predominant ixodid tick species infesting dromedary camels and to evaluate their diversity in the arid and semi-arid climates of southern Algeria from 2016 to 2025. Sampling was carried out across major camel-rearing regions at various sites, including farms, slaughterhouses, and livestock markets. A total of 539 adult ixodid ticks were collected from 102 infested camels, of which 60 engorged females were identified as Hyalomma . spp. The remaining 479 ticks consisted of 300 males (62.6%) and 179 females (37.4%), with no immature stages observed. Tick abundance was higher in the hyper-arid desert zone ( n = 343; 63.6%) than in the semi-arid steppe zone ( n = 196; 36.4%). Morphological identification revealed two genera: Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp. Hyalomma dromedarii was the most abundant species ( n = 430; 89.8%), followed by H. impeltatum ( n = 48; 10.0%), while Rhipicephalus sanguineus (sensu lato) was represented by a single specimen ( n = 1; 0.2%). In camels from the semi-arid steppe zone, Hyalomma dromedarii was primarily found on the udder and inguinal regions (66.3%), followed by the perineal area (16.6%), abdomen (14.9%), and sternum (2.3%). No ticks were observed on other body regions, highlighting a distinct site-specific attachment pattern for this species. The findings highlight H. dromedarii as the primary tick species infesting camels in both the semi-arid steppe and hyper-arid desert regions of southern Algeria. This research offers crucial baseline data to support targeted control strategies against ticks and tick-borne pathogens, ultimately enhancing camel health and productivity. Ixodid ticks dromedary camels southern Algeria Hyalomma dromedarii Hyalomma impeltatum Rhipicephalus sanguineus body region Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 1. Introduction Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that feed exclusively on blood and parasitise a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including wildlife, livestock, and humans (Nasirian 2024 ). As major vectors of numerous pathogens, ticks are second only to mosquitoes in their medical and veterinary importance (Chhillar et al. 2014 ). Approximately 900 tick species are recognised worldwide, of which more than 700 belong to the family Ixodidae . Around 200 species are classified within the Argasidae , while the third family, Nuttalliellidae , is represented by a single species (Guglielmone et al. 2014 ). The majority of ticks of veterinary significance belong to the family Ixodidae , which transmit a broader range of protozoan, bacterial, rickettsial, and viral pathogens than any other group of arthropod vectors (Eisen et al. 2017 ). Ticks and the pathogens they transmit (TBPs) are major constraints on livestock productivity worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The global economic losses associated with tick infestations and TBPs are estimated to be between $ 22 and $ 30 billion (Kumar et al. 2020 ). Dromedary camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) are widely found throughout the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria (Bellabidi et al. 2020 ; Bouhous et al. 2008 ). They are of considerable cultural and economic importance in many countries, providing a key source of milk and meat thanks to their remarkable physiological adaptations to arid and semi-arid ecosystems (Faye 2014 ). According to the 2020 statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Algeria’s total camel population was 435,214 ( https://fr.madr.gov.dz/ ). Camels can be infested by a variety of tick species, including Hyalomma dromedarii , H. impeltatum , H. excavatum , H. marginatum , H. anatolicum , H. impressum , H. truncatum , Rhipicephalus sanguineus , R. pulchellus , Amblyomma variegatum , and A. gemma . These camel ticks have been associated with several tick-borne pathogens, including Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., Coxiella burnetii , Ehrlichia spp., and Theileria spp. (Alanazi et al. 2020 ). Among these, H. dromedarii is the most prevalent ixodid tick infesting camels and is regarded as a major constraint to camel production across many regions of the Middle East (Abdel-Shafy et al. 2006 ). In Algeria, it is reported primarily on camels, although infestations on sheep have also been documented. The presence of H. dromedarii is closely linked to the geographical distribution of its primary host, the dromedary (Bouhous et al. 2011 ). Despite their importance, information on the diversity and infestation intensity of camel ticks in Algeria remains limited, especially in the southern regions, which host large dromedary populations critical for regional livestock production and economic sustainability. Bioecological studies of ticks are essential for developing effective control programmes against these parasites. Such studies require accurate identification of ticks to establish a comprehensive list of the ixodid fauna infesting livestock in a given region, as well as to describe their ecology and distribution (Bouattour 2002 ). This also helps to identify the species that act as vectors, thereby enabling more targeted control strategies (Bouattour 2002 ). This study aimed to address the current knowledge gap by identifying the primary ixodid tick species that infest dromedary camels and assessing their variety in the arid and semi-arid areas of southern Algeria from 2016 to 2025. 2. Materials and methods 2.1 Study sites This study investigated the species diversity of ixodid ticks infesting dromedary camels ( Camelus dromedarius ) in southern Algeria. Between 2016 and 2025, ticks were collected during multiple field surveys across two bioclimatic zones: the semi-arid steppe (El Bayadh) and the hyper-arid desert (Adrar, Ouargla, and Tindouf) (Fig. 1 ). Sampling sites were mapped using ArcGIS software, version 10.8 ( http://www.esri.com ). El Bayadh, situated in south-western Algeria within the steppe and high plateau region, lies approximately 600 km from the capital, Algiers. The province covers an area of 71,697 km² and is bordered by Saïda and Tiaret to the north, Laghouat to the east, Ghardaïa and Adrar to the south-east, Sidi Bel Abbès to the west, and Naâma and Béchar to the south-west. Its climate is typical of the Algerian steppe, with a pronounced continental influence and semi-arid conditions, marked by cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers (Climate-Data.org). Adrar (27°52′50″N, 0°17′50″W) is a province in south-western Algeria, named after its capital, Adrar. It is the second-largest province of the country, covering an area of 424,948 km². Adrar borders Tindouf to the west, Béchar and El Bayadh to the north, Ghardaïa and Tamanrasset to the east, and Mauritania and Mali to the south. The climate is typically arid desert (BWh, Köppen–Geiger), with precipitation almost non-existent throughout the year. The mean annual temperature is approximately 25.9°C, while average annual rainfall is extremely low, around 11 mm (Climate-Data.org). Ouargla (31°57′N, 5°19′E) is among the largest provinces of Algeria, covering 163,233 km². It is bordered by Djelfa, El Oued, and Biskra to the north, Tunisia to the east, Ghardaïa to the west, and Tamanrasset and Illizi to the south. Located in the Saharan region, Ouargla is characterised by an extremely arid desert climate (BWh, Köppen–Geiger), with minimal rainfall throughout the year (Climate-Data.org). The province of Tindouf (27°41′N, 8°8′W) occupies a geostrategic position in south-western Algeria, covering an area of 158,874 km². It borders Morocco to the north, Béchar to the north-east, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to the west, Adrar to the south-east, and Mauritania to the south. The climate is classified as desert (BWh, Köppen–Geiger) and is characterised by extremely arid conditions, with precipitation virtually absent throughout the year (Climate-Data.org). 2.2 Sampling A total of 539 ixodid ticks were collected from 102 infested camels. These animals were sampled from key camel-rearing regions in southern Algeria, specifically representing two bioclimatic zones: the semi-arid steppe zone and hyper-arid desert zone (Table 1 ). Sampling was performed at farms, slaughterhouses, and livestock markets, depending on local husbandry practices. The selected areas were chosen because of their high camel density and significance to camel production systems in southern Algeria. Table 1 Grouping of infested dromedary camels according to bioclimatic zones in southern Algeria. Bioclimatic zone Provinces included Sampling sites Infested camels ( n ) Semi-arid steppe zone El Bayadh Farms 57 Hyper-arid desert zone Tindouf, Adrar, Ouargla Farms, slaughterhouses, and livestock markets 45 Total — — 102 Ticks were manually removed from infested camels following standard parasitological procedures (Walker et al., 2003 ). Specimens were collected from specific body regions of each host and pooled by site into individually labelled tubes containing 70% ethanol, which were stored at room temperature until further processing. All samples were subsequently transported to the Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret, Algeria, for morphological identification and analysis. 2.3 Morphological identification of ixodid ticks Using a binocular microscope, ticks were morphologically identified by examining diagnostic features such as the presence or absence of festoons, the size of the eyes and mouthparts, the structure of the scutum, and the configuration of adanal and subanal plates, as well as the spiracle region. This process was guided by standard identification keys and references (Walker et al. 2003 ). 2.4 Statistical analysis All raw data obtained during the study were systematically entered into Microsoft Excel 2024 (Microsoft Corporation, USA) for organization and preliminary processing. 3. Results 3.1 Tick species A total of 539 adult ixodid ticks were collected from 102 infested camels. Among these, 60 engorged females were morphologically identified as Hyalomma spp. The remaining 479 ticks comprised 300 males (62.6%) and 179 females (37.4%), with no immature stages observed. Tick abundance was greater in the hyper-arid desert zone ( n = 343; 63.6%) compared to the semi-arid steppe zone ( n = 196; 36.4%) (Table 2). Among the 479 adult ticks identified morphologically, two genera were recorded ( Hyalomma spp. and Rhipicephalus spp.), as shown in Table 2. Hyalomma dromedarii (Fig. 2) was the predominant species, accounting for 430 specimens (89.8%), followed by H. impeltatum (Fig. 3) with 48 specimens (10.0%). The genus Rhipicephalus was represented by a single specimen of R. sanguineus sensu lato ( n = 1; 0.2%) (Fig. 4). Table 2. Species composition, sex distribution, and abundance of adult ixodid ticks collected from dromedary camels according to bioclimatic zones in southern Algeria. Bioclimatic zone Infested camels (n) Total ticks (n) Engorged ♀ Hyalomma spp. H. dromedarii H. impeltatum R. sanguineus s.l. ♂ ♀ ♂ ♀ ♂ ♀ Semi-arid steppe zone 57 196 21 124 51 0 0 0 0 Hyper-arid desert zone 45 343 39 167 88 48 0 0 1 Total 102 539 60 291 139 48 0 0 1 3.2 Body region preferences of ixodid ticks in camels Body-region data were available only for camels examined in the semi-arid steppe zone, providing a consistent basis for assessing site-specific tick attachment patterns. In these animals, Hyalomma dromedarii was recorded on the sternum, abdomen, udder, inguinal region, and perineal area (under the tail), with marked variation in abundance among body sites (Table 3). Table 3. Distribution of ixodid ticks with respect to the dromedary camel body regions. Body region H. dromedarii H. impeltatum R. sanguineus s.l. Total Head and neck 0 0 0 0 Sternum 4 0 0 4 Abdomen 26 0 0 26 Udder and inguinal regions 116 0 0 116 Perineum / Under the tail 29 0 0 29 Legs 0 0 0 0 Others 0 0 0 0 Total 175 0 0 175 Infestation was most prevalent on the udder and inguinal regions (66.3%, n = 116), followed by the perineal area (16.6%, n = 29), the abdomen (14.9%, n = 26), and the sternum (2.3%, n = 4). No ticks were recovered from the head and neck, legs, or other minor body regions. Additionally, no specimens of H. impeltatum or Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. were detected in any anatomical site, confirming the exclusive dominance of H. dromedarii in the sampled camel population. This site-specific distribution underscores clear host–site preferences, which are crucial for designing targeted tick control strategies in camel husbandry. 4. Discussion 4.1 Tick Species Composition Based on the 479 morphologically identified ticks collected during the study, two genera of ixodid ticks were recorded on dromedary camels, namely Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus . The overall infestation was largely dominated by Hyalomma species, which accounted for 99.8% ( n = 478) of all identified specimens, while Rhipicephalus represented only 0.2% ( n = 1). This predominance is consistent with the findings of Bouhous et al. ( 2008 ), who reported that out of 69,195 male ticks collected from dromedary camels in the hyper-arid regions of southern Algeria (Province of Adrar), 69,171 (99.97%) belonged to the genus Hyalomma , while only 24 specimens (0.03%) were identified as Rhipicephalus . Similarly, Kernif et al. ( 2012 ) identified a total of 203 ixodid ticks collected from dromedary camels in the hyper-arid environments of southern Algeria, including Adrar ( n = 183) and Béchar ( n = 20), all of which were from the genus Hyalomma , further demonstrating its predominance on camels in desert regions. Overall, H. dromedarii was the most abundant tick species in this study ( n = 430; 89.8%), in agreement with previous reports from hyper-arid regions of Algeria, including studies conducted in Adrar (Bouhous et al. 2008 ), Adrar and Béchar (Kernif et al. 2012 ), and the northern Algerian Sahara (Attir et al. 2025 ), as well as findings from other hyper-arid areas in Arab countries, such as Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi et al. 2019 ) and the United Arab Emirates (Perveen et al. 2021 ). H. dromedarii follows a two- or three-host lifecycle, with the dromedary camel as its principal host, although other domestic mammals can occasionally be infested. The species is distributed across Mediterranean, steppe, and desert climates and is reported mainly on camels in Algeria, with sporadic occurrences on sheep (Walker et al. 2003 ). Its presence is closely linked to the geographical distribution of its primary host, underlining the strong host specificity that governs its ecology and highlights its epidemiological significance in camel-rearing regions (Bouhous et al. 2008 ). H. dromedarii is known to transmit several viral pathogens, most notably Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (Rodriguez et al. 1997 ). It is also a recognized vector of protozoan parasites, including Theileria camelensis and T. annulata (Hoogstraal et al. 1981 ), as well as bacterial agents such as Coxiella burnetii , the causative agent of Q fever (Abdullah et al. 2018 ), and spotted fever group rickettsiae (Abdel-Shafy et al. 2012 ). H. impeltatum was the second most abundant species in the present study, with a prevalence of 10.0% ( n = 48). This finding is consistent with reports from hyper-arid environments of southern Algeria (Province of Adrar), where H. impeltatum has similarly been described as the second most common species after H. dromedarii (Bouhous et al. 2008 ; Kernif et al. 2012 ). H. impeltatum follows a two- or three-host life cycle. Adult stages typically parasitize hosts within the families Camelidae and Bovidae , whereas immature stages commonly infest small mammals, particularly those belonging to Leporidae (rabbits and hares) and Muridae (rodents) (Guglielmone et al. 2014 ). The species is widely distributed across the Palearctic region, reflecting its broad ecological adaptability (Apanaskevich and Horak 2009 ). In Algeria, H. impeltatum has been recorded on various livestock species, with the dromedary camel recognized as its principal host (Mechouk et al. 2022 ). Several viral agents have also been reported from H. impeltatum . Early investigations documented the presence of both the Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and the Wanowrie virus in this species (Williams et al. 1973 ). More recently, Kleinerman et al. ( 2013 ) detected Rickettsia africae in two H. impeltatum specimens collected from camels. In addition, this tick is recognized as a competent vector of Theileria annulata (Mustafa et al. 1983 ) and has been implicated in the transmission of malignant theileriosis ( T. hirci ) in sheep in Saudi Arabia (El-Azazy et al. 2001 ). R. sanguineus s.l. was rarely recorded ( n = 1; 0.2%), consistent with its low prevalence in previous Algerian studies (Bouhous et al. 2008 ; Attir et al. 2025 ). Widely distributed in Algeria (Leulmi et al. 2016 ), R. sanguineus s.l. (brown dog tick) is a three-host species with a broad host range, infesting domestic animals such as dogs, camels, goats, cattle, cats, and sheep, as well as wildlife including jackals, bats, hedgehogs, wild boars, and mongooses (Dantas-Torres 2010 ). Only adults are typically found on hosts, while immature stages are collected by flagging. The species occurs across northern, central, and southwestern regions of the country and has a global distribution (Mechouk et al. 2022 ). Different lineages of R. sanguineus s.l. exhibit varying vector competence for specific pathogens, such as Ehrlichia canis (Moraes-Filho et al. 2015 ). 4.2 Body region preferences of the ixodid ticks The observed site-specific attachment of ixodid ticks, with H. dromedarii predominantly infesting the udder and inguinal regions (66.3%), followed by the perineum (16.6%), abdomen (14.9%), and sternum (2.3%), aligns with previous studies in Algeria reporting a preference for the inguinal, udder, and perineal regions (Hamza et al. 2025 ; Bedouhene et al. 2022 ). Attir et al. ( 2025 ) reported that the abdomen harboured the highest proportion of ectoparasites (22.7%), followed by the neck and sternum (17.8%) and the anal and tail region (17.4%). No ticks were recovered from the head, neck, limbs, or other minor regions, and neither H. impeltatum nor Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l. were detected, confirming the exclusive dominance of H. dromedarii in the sampled camels. H. dromedarii in this study was primarily found on areas of the camel’s body with thin skin and short hair. These characteristics likely enable the tick to insert its mouthparts and access blood vessels more efficiently (Ernieenor et al. 2020 ). Such preferred attachment sites are important for understanding infestation patterns and for designing targeted control measures. Adults are most frequently observed on the perineal and chest regions (Fard et al. 2012 ), although they may infest other areas across the camel’s body (ElGhali and Hassan 2009). Conclusion This study confirms the clear predominance of Hyalomma dromedarii on dromedary camels across both semi-arid steppe and hyper-arid desert zones, while H. impeltatum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato were found at significantly lower relative abundances. The pronounced site-specific attachment of H. dromedarii to the udder, inguinal, and perineal regions—areas characterized by thin, short-haired skin—highlights its strong host adaptation and feeding efficiency. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, species-focused investigations of camel-associated ticks to enhance understanding of their ecology, infestation dynamics, and role in pathogen transmission. Such knowledge is essential for developing targeted and effective control strategies aimed at reducing tick burdens and mitigating the risk of tick-borne diseases in camel populations. Declarations Acknowledgements We are deeply grateful to all the participants who contributed to this study, and to the veterinarians and field teams whose expertise and dedication made sample collection and data acquisition possible. Their generous support was invaluable to the successful completion of this work. Authors’ Contributions All authors contributed to the study's conception and design. Mostefai Elchikh and Baaissa Babelhadj are sampling ticks. Kouidri Mokhtaria and Hamza Achour identified tick species. Data collection and analysis were performed by Selles Sidi Mohammed Ammar. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Kouidri Mokhtaria and Hamza Achour. Valcarcel Felix revised the manuscript. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Funding information: The study was not sponsored by any authority Data availability: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this manuscript. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate and publication: This paper does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors, and the authors agree to its publication. 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Parasit vectors 9: 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-016-1316-9 Mechouk N, Mihalca AD, Deak G, Bouslama Z (2022) Synopsis of the ticks of Algeria with new hosts and localities records. Parasit vectors 15(1): 302. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05424-2 Moraes-Filho J, Krawczak FS, Costa FB, Soares JF, Labruna MB (2015) Comparative Evaluation of the Vector Competence of Four South American Populations of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus Group for the Bacterium Ehrlichia canis, the Agent of Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis. PloS one 10(9): e0139386. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139386 Mustafa Uel-H, Jongejan F, Morzaria SP (1983) Note on the transmission of Theileria annulata by Hyalomma ticks in the Sudan. Vet Q 5(3): 112–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.1983.9693883 Nasirian H (2024) Hard Tick Species Parasitism Levels in Domestic Ruminants with Their Distribution and Role as Vectors: A Detailed Global Meta-analysis and Systematic Review. Acta Parasitol 69(1): 1–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00724-8 Perveen N, Muzaffar SB, Al-Deeb MA (2021) Prevalence, Distribution, and Molecular Record of Four Hard Ticks from Livestock in the United Arab Emirates. Insects 12(11): 1016. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111016 Rodriguez LL, Maupin GO, Ksiazek TG, Rollin PE, Khan AS, Schwarz TF, Lofts RS, Smith JF, Noor AM, Peters CJ, Nichol ST (1997) Molecular investigation of a multisource outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the United Arab Emirates. Am J Trop Med Hyg 57(5): 512–518. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1997.57.512 Walker AR, Bouattour A, Camicas J-L, Estrada-Peña A, Horak IG, Latif AA, Pegram RG, Preston PM (2003) Ticks of domestic animals in Africa: a guide to identification of species. Bioscience Reports, Edinburgh. Williams RE, Hoogstraal H, Casals J, Kaiser MN, Moussa MI (1973) Isolation of Wanowrie, Thogoto, and Dhori viruses from Hyalomma ticks infesting camels in Egypt. J Med Entomol 10(2): 143–146. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/10.2.143 Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 18 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 17 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 15 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 12 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8583758","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":607824268,"identity":"7a5a1ec4-80d1-4a4c-9697-7dab87e17c6f","order_by":0,"name":"Kouidri Mokhtaria","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Veterinary Sciences Institute, University of Tiaret, Tiaret 14000, Algeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kouidri","middleName":"","lastName":"Mokhtaria","suffix":""},{"id":607824269,"identity":"5f698786-34ac-482e-b4b1-4e2be452e2fa","order_by":1,"name":"Achour Hamza","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Veterinary Sciences Institute, University of Tiaret, Tiaret 14000, Algeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Achour","middleName":"","lastName":"Hamza","suffix":""},{"id":607824270,"identity":"4d6ce094-4e12-47c2-abc3-a2d7753f7409","order_by":2,"name":"Sidi Mohammed Ammar Selles","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAyUlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACxgYJBgYJHn4GBjYQl59YLRZykg0QLUCaCADUUmFscIBYLeYSyY03Pu6RSNx8I/nZgw8VDBLmhPRYzkhstpzxTCJx2400c8MZZxgkZA4Q0GJwI7FNmucASEuCmTRvG0OdBCGHgbX8AWrZPCP9G0iLBHFaGA5IGBtI5JgRqeXMw2bLngMSchJn3pRJzjgjQYSW4+kPb/w4UMfD356+TeJDhQ1hLQggkAAiSdAATCkHSFE9CkbBKBgFIwkAALkTPd69pPJmAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8070-9981","institution":"Veterinary Sciences Institute, University of Tiaret, Tiaret 14000, Algeria","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sidi","middleName":"Mohammed Ammar","lastName":"Selles","suffix":""},{"id":607824271,"identity":"4da1de40-5f63-4c85-8aed-8434aa9b80b1","order_by":3,"name":"Bia Taha","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Abdelhamid Ibn Badis Mostaganem, Mostaganem 27000, Algeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Bia","middleName":"","lastName":"Taha","suffix":""},{"id":607824272,"identity":"59906aea-b02d-42a0-8521-149d01cafa9d","order_by":4,"name":"Felix Valcarcel","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Grupo de Parasitologia Animal, Departemento de Reproduction Animal (INIA-CSIC),28040, Madrid, Spain","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Felix","middleName":"","lastName":"Valcarcel","suffix":""},{"id":607824273,"identity":"1c33ea8d-2854-4fb4-b0f8-5661b70a0814","order_by":5,"name":"Babelhadj Baaissa","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"École Normale Supérieure de Ouergla, Ouergla 30000, Algeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Babelhadj","middleName":"","lastName":"Baaissa","suffix":""},{"id":607824274,"identity":"20516efe-4b22-4cd0-a69d-04f1debc8b19","order_by":6,"name":"Mostefai Elchikh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Clinical Veterinarian, Ain Oussara-Djelfa 17000, Algeria","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mostefai","middleName":"","lastName":"Elchikh","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-12 16:15:14","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583758/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583758/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105080083,"identity":"de563d5b-3f0b-4f42-af91-3d8803be7629","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-20 17:25:04","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":148563,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eGeographic location of tick sampling sites in southern Algeria, generated using ArcGIS software (version 10.8; ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA).\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8583758/v1/0c9fdf4084bc0eef6ed776b2.png"},{"id":105080085,"identity":"a96e845f-9515-4b1c-ae98-852c5fa45fc4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-20 17:25:04","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1176349,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHyalomma dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e. \u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c/strong\u003e Female dorsal view; \u003cstrong\u003eB: \u003c/strong\u003eFemale ventral view; \u003cstrong\u003eC:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c/em\u003eMale dorsal view; \u003cstrong\u003eD:\u003c/strong\u003e Male ventral view.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8583758/v1/ecb9e3854cd533bf08f2940d.png"},{"id":105563116,"identity":"e8fecdeb-6cdd-44c7-98ce-bf8d1c53f5f6","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 12:46:01","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":774484,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHyalomma impeltatum. \u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA:\u003c/strong\u003e Male dorsal view; \u003cstrong\u003eB:\u003c/strong\u003e Male ventral view.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8583758/v1/906f533a142150dfa9b43b67.png"},{"id":105080086,"identity":"808b1a71-5026-46bd-8248-b17cf76f04f3","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-20 17:25:04","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":262406,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003es.l. Female dorsal view.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8583758/v1/5352d4831bb3a90d137dd4b7.png"},{"id":105568410,"identity":"12e9d626-f4bc-4d5d-a6b7-330236ee89c1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-27 13:08:32","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3695089,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8583758/v1/97306f8b-2e1b-4e44-ad12-11767f556ce2.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Species Diversity and Infestation Patterns of Ixodid Ticks Associated with Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) under Arid and Semi-arid Conditions in Southern Algeria","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eTicks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that feed exclusively on blood and parasitise a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including wildlife, livestock, and humans (Nasirian \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e). As major vectors of numerous pathogens, ticks are second only to mosquitoes in their medical and veterinary importance (Chhillar et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Approximately 900 tick species are recognised worldwide, of which more than 700 belong to the family \u003cem\u003eIxodidae\u003c/em\u003e. Around 200 species are classified within the \u003cem\u003eArgasidae\u003c/em\u003e, while the third family, \u003cem\u003eNuttalliellidae\u003c/em\u003e, is represented by a single species (Guglielmone et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). The majority of ticks of veterinary significance belong to the family \u003cem\u003eIxodidae\u003c/em\u003e, which transmit a broader range of protozoan, bacterial, rickettsial, and viral pathogens than any other group of arthropod vectors (Eisen et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e). Ticks and the pathogens they transmit (TBPs) are major constraints on livestock productivity worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The global economic losses associated with tick infestations and TBPs are estimated to be between \u003cspan\u003e$\u003c/span\u003e22 and \u003cspan\u003e$\u003c/span\u003e30\u0026nbsp;billion (Kumar et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDromedary camels (\u003cem\u003eCamelus dromedarius\u003c/em\u003e) are widely found throughout the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria (Bellabidi et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Bouhous et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). They are of considerable cultural and economic importance in many countries, providing a key source of milk and meat thanks to their remarkable physiological adaptations to arid and semi-arid ecosystems (Faye \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). According to the 2020 statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Algeria\u0026rsquo;s total camel population was 435,214 (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://fr.madr.gov.dz/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://fr.madr.gov.dz/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e). Camels can be infested by a variety of tick species, including \u003cem\u003eHyalomma dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eH. excavatum\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eH. marginatum\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eH. anatolicum\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eH. impressum\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eH. truncatum\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eR. pulchellus\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAmblyomma variegatum\u003c/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eA. gemma\u003c/em\u003e. These camel ticks have been associated with several tick-borne pathogens, including \u003cem\u003eBabesia\u003c/em\u003e spp., \u003cem\u003eRickettsia\u003c/em\u003e spp., \u003cem\u003eAnaplasma\u003c/em\u003e spp., \u003cem\u003eCoxiella burnetii\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eEhrlichia\u003c/em\u003e spp., and \u003cem\u003eTheileria\u003c/em\u003e spp. (Alanazi et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAmong these, \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e is the most prevalent ixodid tick infesting camels and is regarded as a major constraint to camel production across many regions of the Middle East (Abdel-Shafy et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). In Algeria, it is reported primarily on camels, although infestations on sheep have also been documented. The presence of \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e is closely linked to the geographical distribution of its primary host, the dromedary (Bouhous et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Despite their importance, information on the diversity and infestation intensity of camel ticks in Algeria remains limited, especially in the southern regions, which host large dromedary populations critical for regional livestock production and economic sustainability.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBioecological studies of ticks are essential for developing effective control programmes against these parasites. Such studies require accurate identification of ticks to establish a comprehensive list of the ixodid fauna infesting livestock in a given region, as well as to describe their ecology and distribution (Bouattour \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). This also helps to identify the species that act as vectors, thereby enabling more targeted control strategies (Bouattour \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to address the current knowledge gap by identifying the primary ixodid tick species that infest dromedary camels and assessing their variety in the arid and semi-arid areas of southern Algeria from 2016 to 2025.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and methods","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Study sites\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study investigated the species diversity of ixodid ticks infesting dromedary camels (\u003cem\u003eCamelus dromedarius\u003c/em\u003e) in southern Algeria. Between 2016 and 2025, ticks were collected during multiple field surveys across two bioclimatic zones: the semi-arid steppe (El Bayadh) and the hyper-arid desert (Adrar, Ouargla, and Tindouf) (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Sampling sites were mapped using ArcGIS software, version 10.8 (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttp://www.esri.com\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"http://www.esri.com\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEl Bayadh, situated in south-western Algeria within the steppe and high plateau region, lies approximately 600 km from the capital, Algiers. The province covers an area of 71,697 km\u0026sup2; and is bordered by Sa\u0026iuml;da and Tiaret to the north, Laghouat to the east, Gharda\u0026iuml;a and Adrar to the south-east, Sidi Bel Abb\u0026egrave;s to the west, and Na\u0026acirc;ma and B\u0026eacute;char to the south-west. Its climate is typical of the Algerian steppe, with a pronounced continental influence and semi-arid conditions, marked by cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers (Climate-Data.org).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdrar (27\u0026deg;52\u0026prime;50\u0026Prime;N, 0\u0026deg;17\u0026prime;50\u0026Prime;W) is a province in south-western Algeria, named after its capital, Adrar. It is the second-largest province of the country, covering an area of 424,948 km\u0026sup2;. Adrar borders Tindouf to the west, B\u0026eacute;char and El Bayadh to the north, Gharda\u0026iuml;a and Tamanrasset to the east, and Mauritania and Mali to the south. The climate is typically arid desert (BWh, K\u0026ouml;ppen\u0026ndash;Geiger), with precipitation almost non-existent throughout the year. The mean annual temperature is approximately 25.9\u0026deg;C, while average annual rainfall is extremely low, around 11 mm (Climate-Data.org).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOuargla (31\u0026deg;57\u0026prime;N, 5\u0026deg;19\u0026prime;E) is among the largest provinces of Algeria, covering 163,233 km\u0026sup2;. It is bordered by Djelfa, El Oued, and Biskra to the north, Tunisia to the east, Gharda\u0026iuml;a to the west, and Tamanrasset and Illizi to the south. Located in the Saharan region, Ouargla is characterised by an extremely arid desert climate (BWh, K\u0026ouml;ppen\u0026ndash;Geiger), with minimal rainfall throughout the year (Climate-Data.org).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe province of Tindouf (27\u0026deg;41\u0026prime;N, 8\u0026deg;8\u0026prime;W) occupies a geostrategic position in south-western Algeria, covering an area of 158,874 km\u0026sup2;. It borders Morocco to the north, B\u0026eacute;char to the north-east, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) to the west, Adrar to the south-east, and Mauritania to the south. The climate is classified as desert (BWh, K\u0026ouml;ppen\u0026ndash;Geiger) and is characterised by extremely arid conditions, with precipitation virtually absent throughout the year (Climate-Data.org).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e\u003cb\u003e2.2 Sampling\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 539 ixodid ticks were collected from 102 infested camels. These animals were sampled from key camel-rearing regions in southern Algeria, specifically representing two bioclimatic zones: the semi-arid steppe zone and hyper-arid desert zone (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Sampling was performed at farms, slaughterhouses, and livestock markets, depending on local husbandry practices. The selected areas were chosen because of their high camel density and significance to camel production systems in southern Algeria.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGrouping of infested dromedary camels according to bioclimatic zones in southern Algeria.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBioclimatic zone\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvinces included\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSampling sites\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInfested camels (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSemi-arid steppe zone\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEl Bayadh\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarms\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHyper-arid desert zone\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTindouf, Adrar, Ouargla\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFarms, slaughterhouses, and livestock markets\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTotal\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e102\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTicks were manually removed from infested camels following standard parasitological procedures (Walker et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e). Specimens were collected from specific body regions of each host and pooled by site into individually labelled tubes containing 70% ethanol, which were stored at room temperature until further processing. All samples were subsequently transported to the Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, University of Tiaret, Algeria, for morphological identification and analysis.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Morphological identification of ixodid ticks\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsing a binocular microscope, ticks were morphologically identified by examining diagnostic features such as the presence or absence of festoons, the size of the eyes and mouthparts, the structure of the scutum, and the configuration of adanal and subanal plates, as well as the spiracle region. This process was guided by standard identification keys and references (Walker et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4 Statistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll raw data obtained during the study were systematically entered into Microsoft Excel 2024 (Microsoft Corporation, USA) for organization and preliminary processing.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.1 Tick species\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA total of 539 adult ixodid ticks were collected from 102 infested camels.\u0026nbsp;Among these, 60 engorged females were morphologically identified as \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e spp.\u0026nbsp;The remaining 479 ticks comprised 300 males (62.6%) and 179 females (37.4%), with no immature stages observed. Tick abundance was greater in the hyper-arid desert zone (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 343; 63.6%) compared to the semi-arid steppe zone (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 196; 36.4%) (Table\u0026nbsp;2).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the 479 adult ticks identified morphologically, two genera were recorded (\u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e spp. and \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus\u003c/em\u003e spp.), as shown in Table 2. \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003edromedarii\u003c/em\u003e (Fig. 2) was the predominant species, accounting for 430 specimens (89.8%), followed by \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e (Fig. 3) with 48 specimens (10.0%). The genus \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus\u003c/em\u003e was represented by a single specimen of \u003cem\u003eR. sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e sensu lato (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 1; 0.2%) (Fig. 4).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 2.\u003c/strong\u003e Species composition, sex distribution, and abundance of adult ixodid ticks collected from dromedary camels according to bioclimatic zones in southern Algeria.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv align=\"\"\u003e\n \u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"607\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBioclimatic zone\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" style=\"width: 76px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInfested camels (n)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal ticks (n)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd rowspan=\"2\" style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEngorged ♀\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003espp.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" style=\"width: 90px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eH.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" style=\"width: 81px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eH.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eimpeltatum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd colspan=\"2\" style=\"width: 101px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eR.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003esanguineus s.l.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e♂\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e♀\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 46px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e♂\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e♀\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 49px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e♂\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 51px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e♀\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSemi-arid steppe zone\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 76px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e57\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e196\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e124\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e51\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 46px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 49px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 51px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHyper-arid desert zone\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 76px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e45\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e343\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e39\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e167\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e88\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 46px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 49px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 51px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 102px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 76px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e102\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 78px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e539\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 79px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e60\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 56px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e291\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e139\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 46px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e48\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 35px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 49px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd style=\"width: 51px;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n \u003c/table\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e3.2 Body region preferences of \u003cem\u003eixodid ticks\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003ein camels\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBody-region data were available only for camels examined in the semi-arid steppe zone, providing a consistent basis for assessing site-specific tick attachment patterns. In these animals, \u003cem\u003eHyalomma dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e was recorded on the sternum, abdomen, udder, inguinal region, and perineal area (under the tail), with marked variation in abundance among body sites (Table 3).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable 3.\u003c/strong\u003e Distribution of ixodid ticks with respect to the dromedary camel body regions.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"\" width=\"608\" class=\"fr-table-selection-hover\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBody region\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eR. \u0026nbsp;sanguineus s.l.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eHead and neck\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eSternum\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eAbdomen\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e26\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eUdder and inguinal regions\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e116\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e116\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003ePerineum / Under the tail\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e29\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eLegs\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eOthers\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e175\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e0\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e175\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInfestation was most prevalent on the udder and inguinal regions (66.3%, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 116), followed by the perineal area (16.6%, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 29), the abdomen (14.9%, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 26), and the sternum (2.3%, \u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e = 4). No ticks were recovered from the head and neck, legs, or other minor body regions. Additionally, no specimens of \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e s.l. were detected in any anatomical site, confirming the exclusive dominance of \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e in the sampled camel population. This site-specific distribution underscores clear host\u0026ndash;site preferences, which are crucial for designing targeted tick control strategies in camel husbandry.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.1 Tick Species Composition\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on the 479 morphologically identified ticks collected during the study, two genera of ixodid ticks were recorded on dromedary camels, namely \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe overall infestation was largely dominated by \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e species, which accounted for 99.8% (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;478) of all identified specimens, while \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus\u003c/em\u003e represented only 0.2% (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1). This predominance is consistent with the findings of Bouhous et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e), who reported that out of 69,195 male ticks collected from dromedary camels in the hyper-arid regions of southern Algeria (Province of Adrar), 69,171 (99.97%) belonged to the genus \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e, while only 24 specimens (0.03%) were identified as \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus\u003c/em\u003e. Similarly, Kernif et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e) identified a total of 203 ixodid ticks collected from dromedary camels in the hyper-arid environments of southern Algeria, including Adrar (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;183) and B\u0026eacute;char (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;20), all of which were from the genus \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e, further demonstrating its predominance on camels in desert regions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall, \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e was the most abundant tick species in this study (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;430; 89.8%), in agreement with previous reports from hyper-arid regions of Algeria, including studies conducted in Adrar (Bouhous et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e), Adrar and B\u0026eacute;char (Kernif et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), and the northern Algerian Sahara (Attir et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e), as well as findings from other hyper-arid areas in Arab countries, such as Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e) and the United Arab Emirates (Perveen et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e follows a two- or three-host lifecycle, with the dromedary camel as its principal host, although other domestic mammals can occasionally be infested. The species is distributed across Mediterranean, steppe, and desert climates and is reported mainly on camels in Algeria, with sporadic occurrences on sheep (Walker et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e). Its presence is closely linked to the geographical distribution of its primary host, underlining the strong host specificity that governs its ecology and highlights its epidemiological significance in camel-rearing regions (Bouhous et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e is known to transmit several viral pathogens, most notably Crimean\u0026ndash;Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (Rodriguez et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1997\u003c/span\u003e). It is also a recognized vector of protozoan parasites, including \u003cem\u003eTheileria camelensis\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eT. annulata\u003c/em\u003e (Hoogstraal et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1981\u003c/span\u003e), as well as bacterial agents such as \u003cem\u003eCoxiella burnetii\u003c/em\u003e, the causative agent of Q fever (Abdullah et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e), and spotted fever group rickettsiae (Abdel-Shafy et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e was the second most abundant species in the present study, with a prevalence of 10.0% (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;48). This finding is consistent with reports from hyper-arid environments of southern Algeria (Province of Adrar), where \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e has similarly been described as the second most common species after \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e (Bouhous et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e; Kernif et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e follows a two- or three-host life cycle. Adult stages typically parasitize hosts within the families \u003cem\u003eCamelidae\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eBovidae\u003c/em\u003e, whereas immature stages commonly infest small mammals, particularly those belonging to \u003cem\u003eLeporidae\u003c/em\u003e (rabbits and hares) and \u003cem\u003eMuridae\u003c/em\u003e (rodents) (Guglielmone et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). The species is widely distributed across the Palearctic region, reflecting its broad ecological adaptability (Apanaskevich and Horak \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e). In Algeria, \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e has been recorded on various livestock species, with the dromedary camel recognized as its principal host (Mechouk et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Several viral agents have also been reported from \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e. Early investigations documented the presence of both the Crimean\u0026ndash;Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and the Wanowrie virus in this species (Williams et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1973\u003c/span\u003e). More recently, Kleinerman et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e) detected \u003cem\u003eRickettsia africae\u003c/em\u003e in two \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e specimens collected from camels. In addition, this tick is recognized as a competent vector of \u003cem\u003eTheileria annulata\u003c/em\u003e (Mustafa et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1983\u003c/span\u003e) and has been implicated in the transmission of malignant theileriosis (\u003cem\u003eT. hirci\u003c/em\u003e) in sheep in Saudi Arabia (El-Azazy et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2001\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eR. sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e s.l. was rarely recorded (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1; 0.2%), consistent with its low prevalence in previous Algerian studies (Bouhous et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e; Attir et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e). Widely distributed in Algeria (Leulmi et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e), R. \u003cem\u003esanguineus\u003c/em\u003e s.l. (brown dog tick) is a three-host species with a broad host range, infesting domestic animals such as dogs, camels, goats, cattle, cats, and sheep, as well as wildlife including jackals, bats, hedgehogs, wild boars, and mongooses (Dantas-Torres \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). Only adults are typically found on hosts, while immature stages are collected by flagging. The species occurs across northern, central, and southwestern regions of the country and has a global distribution (Mechouk et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Different lineages of \u003cem\u003eR. sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e s.l. exhibit varying vector competence for specific pathogens, such as \u003cem\u003eEhrlichia canis\u003c/em\u003e (Moraes-Filho et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.2 Body region preferences of the ixodid ticks\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe observed site-specific attachment of ixodid ticks, with \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e predominantly infesting the udder and inguinal regions (66.3%), followed by the perineum (16.6%), abdomen (14.9%), and sternum (2.3%), aligns with previous studies in Algeria reporting a preference for the inguinal, udder, and perineal regions (Hamza et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e; Bedouhene et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Attir et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2025\u003c/span\u003e) reported that the abdomen harboured the highest proportion of ectoparasites (22.7%), followed by the neck and sternum (17.8%) and the anal and tail region (17.4%). No ticks were recovered from the head, neck, limbs, or other minor regions, and neither \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e nor \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e s.l. were detected, confirming the exclusive dominance of \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e in the sampled camels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e in this study was primarily found on areas of the camel\u0026rsquo;s body with thin skin and short hair. These characteristics likely enable the tick to insert its mouthparts and access blood vessels more efficiently (Ernieenor et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Such preferred attachment sites are important for understanding infestation patterns and for designing targeted control measures. Adults are most frequently observed on the perineal and chest regions (Fard et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e), although they may infest other areas across the camel\u0026rsquo;s body (ElGhali and Hassan 2009).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study confirms the clear predominance of \u003cem\u003eHyalomma dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e on dromedary camels across both semi-arid steppe and hyper-arid desert zones, while \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e sensu lato were found at significantly lower relative abundances. The pronounced site-specific attachment of \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e to the udder, inguinal, and perineal regions\u0026mdash;areas characterized by thin, short-haired skin\u0026mdash;highlights its strong host adaptation and feeding efficiency. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, species-focused investigations of camel-associated ticks to enhance understanding of their ecology, infestation dynamics, and role in pathogen transmission. Such knowledge is essential for developing targeted and effective control strategies aimed at reducing tick burdens and mitigating the risk of tick-borne diseases in camel populations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are deeply grateful to all the participants who contributed to this study, and to the veterinarians and field teams whose expertise and dedication made sample collection and data acquisition possible. Their generous support was invaluable to the successful completion of this work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthors\u0026rsquo; Contributions\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors contributed to the study\u0026apos;s conception and design. Mostefai Elchikh and Baaissa Babelhadj are sampling ticks. Kouidri Mokhtaria and Hamza Achour identified tick species. Data collection and analysis were performed by Selles Sidi Mohammed Ammar. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Kouidri Mokhtaria and Hamza Achour. Valcarcel Felix revised the manuscript. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding information:\u003c/strong\u003e The study was not sponsored by any authority\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability:\u003c/strong\u003e All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics approval:\u003c/strong\u003e Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to participate and publication:\u003c/strong\u003e This paper does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors, and the authors agree to its publication.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interests:\u003c/strong\u003e The authors declare that there is no competing interest in this study.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbdel-Shafy S, Allam NA, Mediannikov O, Parola P, Raoult D (2012) Molecular detection of spotted fever group rickettsiae associated with ixodid ticks in Egypt. 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Exp Appl Acarol 80(1): 137\u0026ndash;149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-019-00439-4\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFard SR, Fathi S, Asl EN, Nazhad HA, Kazeroni SS (2012) Hard ticks on one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) and their seasonal population dynamics in southeast Iran. Trop Anim Health Prod 44(1): 197\u0026ndash;200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9909-y\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFaye B (2014) The camel today: assets and potentials. Anthropozoologica 49(2): 167-176.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuglielmone AA, Robbins RG, Apanaskevich DA, Petney TN, Estrada-Pe\u0026ntilde;a A, Horak IG (2014) The hard ticks of the world. Springer, Dordrecht.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHamza A, Mokhtaria K, Ammar SSM, Taha B (2025) Identification, seasonal prevalence, and preferred attachment sites of ixodid tick species infesting cattle in four municipalities of the province of Tiaret, northwest Algeria. 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Parasit vectors 15(1): 302. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05424-2\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoraes-Filho J, Krawczak FS, Costa FB, Soares JF, Labruna MB (2015) Comparative Evaluation of the Vector Competence of Four South American Populations of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus Group for the Bacterium Ehrlichia canis, the Agent of Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis. PloS one 10(9): e0139386. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139386\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMustafa Uel-H, Jongejan F, Morzaria SP (1983) Note on the transmission of Theileria annulata by Hyalomma ticks in the Sudan. Vet Q 5(3): 112\u0026ndash;113. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.1983.9693883\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNasirian H (2024) Hard Tick Species Parasitism Levels in Domestic Ruminants with Their Distribution and Role as Vectors: A Detailed Global Meta-analysis and Systematic Review. Acta Parasitol 69(1): 1\u0026ndash;105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00724-8\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerveen N, Muzaffar SB, Al-Deeb MA (2021) Prevalence, Distribution, and Molecular Record of Four Hard Ticks from Livestock in the United Arab Emirates. Insects 12(11): 1016. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12111016\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRodriguez LL, Maupin GO, Ksiazek TG, Rollin PE, Khan AS, Schwarz TF, Lofts RS, Smith JF, Noor AM, Peters CJ, Nichol ST (1997) Molecular investigation of a multisource outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the United Arab Emirates. \u003cstrong\u003eAm J Trop Med Hyg\u003c/strong\u003e57(5): 512\u0026ndash;518. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1997.57.512\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWalker AR, Bouattour A, Camicas J-L, Estrada-Pe\u0026ntilde;a A, Horak IG, Latif AA, Pegram RG, Preston PM (2003) Ticks of domestic animals in Africa: a guide to identification of species. Bioscience Reports, Edinburgh.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilliams RE, Hoogstraal H, Casals J, Kaiser MN, Moussa MI (1973) Isolation of Wanowrie, Thogoto, and Dhori viruses from Hyalomma ticks infesting camels in Egypt. J Med Entomol 10(2): 143\u0026ndash;146. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/10.2.143\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"trop","sideBox":"Learn more about [Tropical Animal Health and Production](https://www.springer.com/journal/11250)","snPcode":"11250","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11250/3","title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Ixodid ticks, dromedary camels, southern Algeria, Hyalomma dromedarii, Hyalomma impeltatum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, body region","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583758/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583758/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eIxodid ticks infesting camels act as vectors of tick-borne diseases, which pose significant public health challenges and cause considerable socio-economic losses to the livestock industry in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to identify the predominant ixodid tick species infesting dromedary camels and to evaluate their diversity in the arid and semi-arid climates of southern Algeria from 2016 to 2025. Sampling was carried out across major camel-rearing regions at various sites, including farms, slaughterhouses, and livestock markets. A total of 539 adult ixodid ticks were collected from 102 infested camels, of which 60 engorged females were identified as \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e. spp. The remaining 479 ticks consisted of 300 males (62.6%) and 179 females (37.4%), with no immature stages observed. Tick abundance was higher in the hyper-arid desert zone (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;343; 63.6%) than in the semi-arid steppe zone (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;196; 36.4%). Morphological identification revealed two genera: \u003cem\u003eHyalomma\u003c/em\u003e spp. and \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus\u003c/em\u003e spp. \u003cem\u003eHyalomma dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e was the most abundant species (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;430; 89.8%), followed by \u003cem\u003eH. impeltatum\u003c/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;48; 10.0%), while \u003cem\u003eRhipicephalus sanguineus\u003c/em\u003e (sensu lato) was represented by a single specimen (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1; 0.2%). In camels from the semi-arid steppe zone, \u003cem\u003eHyalomma dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e was primarily found on the udder and inguinal regions (66.3%), followed by the perineal area (16.6%), abdomen (14.9%), and sternum (2.3%). No ticks were observed on other body regions, highlighting a distinct site-specific attachment pattern for this species. The findings highlight \u003cem\u003eH. dromedarii\u003c/em\u003e as the primary tick species infesting camels in both the semi-arid steppe and hyper-arid desert regions of southern Algeria. This research offers crucial baseline data to support targeted control strategies against ticks and tick-borne pathogens, ultimately enhancing camel health and productivity.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Species Diversity and Infestation Patterns of Ixodid Ticks Associated with Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius) under Arid and Semi-arid Conditions in Southern Algeria","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-20 17:24:51","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583758/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"","date":"2026-03-18T13:04:03+00:00","index":0,"fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-03-17T19:33:30+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-01-16T04:39:06+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","date":"2026-01-12T11:10:56+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"tropical-animal-health-and-production","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"trop","sideBox":"Learn more about [Tropical Animal Health and Production](https://www.springer.com/journal/11250)","snPcode":"11250","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/11250/3","title":"Tropical Animal Health and Production","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e1b5fee3-b3ce-4688-ae84-5675372b5505","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 20th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-20T17:24:51+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-20 17:24:51","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8583758","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8583758","identity":"rs-8583758","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}