Abstract Coxiella burnetii is an important pathogen because of its wide host range, low infectious dose, stability in the environment, and capability for aerosol dispersion. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential role of hard ticks found on camels in transmitting Coxiella burnetii. A total number of adult hard ticks (n.370) were collected from 181 imported camels brought for slaughter in Cairo, Egypt, in which all examined camels were infested (100%). Ticks were identified using a stereomicroscope then screened for the presence of C. burnetii by PCR. Most camels were infested with Hyalomma dromedarii (n.171, 94.5 %) whereas other species were less prevalent, including Amblyomma hebraeum (n.19, 10.5 %), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (n.11, 6.1 %), H. anatolicum anatolicum (n.9, 5%), A. variegatum (n.8, 4.4 %) and A. gemma (n.4, 2.2 %). It is important to note that A. variegatum, A. gemma and R. pulchellus are rarely identified in Egypt, despite the higher prevalence in countries where camels came from. Four out of the six identified ixodid tick species yielded positive results for C. burnetii with an overall prevalence of 5.4 %, while prevalence of the other tick species was 6.6 %, 5.6 %, 5.3 % and 3.6 % for H. dromedarii, A. variegatum, H. anatolicum anatolicum and R. pulchellus respectively.The current study identified a wide array of hard tick species found on camels and highlights the potential role of such ticks in transmitting C. burnetii.

中文翻译：

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埃及屠宰场硬蜱感染骆驼的调查及其在传播 Coxiella burnetii 中的潜在作用

摘要 Coxiella burnetii 具有宿主范围广、感染剂量低、环境稳定性好、气溶胶扩散能力强等特点，是一种重要的病原体。这项工作的目的是调查在骆驼上发现的硬蜱在传播 Coxiella burnetii 中的潜在作用。从在埃及开罗屠宰的 181 头进口骆驼中收集了成年硬蜱的总数（n.370），其中所有检查的骆驼都被感染（100%）。使用立体显微镜鉴定蜱，然后通过 PCR 筛选 C.burnetii 的存在。大多数骆驼感染了 Hyalomma dromedarii (n.171, 94.5 %) 而其他物种则不太普遍，包括 Amblyomma hebraeum (n.19, 10.5 %)、Rhipicephalus pulchellus (n.11, 6.1 %)、H. anatolicum anatolicum n.9, 5%)、A. variegatum (n.8, 4.4%) 和 A. gemma (n.4, 2.2%)。需要注意的是，尽管在骆驼原产国的流行率较高，但在埃及很少发现 A. variegatum、A. gemma 和 R. pulchellus。六种已鉴定的 ixodid 蜱种中有 4 种对 C.burnetii 产生阳性结果，总体流行率为 5.4%，而其他蜱种的流行率为 6.6%、5.6%、5.3% 和 3.6%。 variegatum、H. anatolicum anatolicum 和 R. pulchellus。目前的研究确定了在骆驼上发现的大量硬蜱物种，并强调了这些蜱在传播 C.burnetii 中的潜在作用。