2025, Cilt 41, e0454
A Novel Host Record: Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1758) infestation on the Mediterranean Chameleon, Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Linnaeus, 1758) in Türkiye
Gokhan Eren
Department of Aquatic Animal Health, Mediterranean Fisheries Research, Production and Training Institute, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Antalya, Türkiye
Keywords: Acari, Chameleon, Host-Parasite Relationships, Reptile Ectoparasites
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The aim of this study is to report a tick infestation detected on the Mediterranean Chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) in the Demre district of Antalya Province, located on the southern coast of Türkiye. A tick specimen collected from the orbital area was morphologically identified as Hyalomma aegyptium (Linnaeus, 1758) using microscopic examination. Although Hy. aegyptium infestation is common in tortoises of the genus Testudo and some lizard species, it is infrequent in chameleons. This study represents a new host-parasite relationship for Hy. aegyptium in Türkiye, and in the world.