Medical and Veterinary Entomology (2010) 24, 336–339 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2010.00874.x SHORT COMMUNICATION Risk for the introduction of exotic ticks and pathogens into Italy through the illegal importation of tortoises, Testudo graeca E. B R I A N T I 1 , F. D A N T A S - T O R R E S 2 , S. G I A N N E T T O 1 , A. R I S I T A N O 1 , G. B R U C A T O 1 , G. G A G L I O 1 and D. O T R A N T O 2 1 Dipartimento di Sanit` a Pubblica Veterinaria, Universit` a degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy and 2 Dipartimento di Sanit` a Pubblica e Zootecnia, Universit` a degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy Abstract. In April 2008, 585 tortoises illegally imported into Italy from North Africa were examined for the presence of ticks. Of these, 221 tortoises (37.8%) were infested with a mean intensity of 3.9 ± 3.1 ticks (range 1–17 ticks). A total of 798 ticks (672 males, 125 females and one nymph) were collected and identified as Hyalomma aegyptium (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae). The overall male : female ratio observed was 5 : 1. The prevalence and mean intensity [±standard deviation (SD)] of ticks were higher among male (67.4%, 4.0 ± 3.2) than female (55.6%, 3.8 ± 3.1) tortoises, although this difference was not significant. By contrast, the prevalence and mean intensity of ticks were significantly higher on tortoises weighing >100 g (61.5%, 4.0 ± 3.2) compared with tortoises weighing <100 g (12.1%, 2.1 ± 1.1). Of the infested tortoises, 89.8% had ticks on their hind limbs, 21.0% on forelimbs, 18.6% on the tail and pre-anal area, and 4.8% on the head; thus the hind limbs were evidently the preferred attachment site. The present report highlights the need to develop surveillance systems to prevent the introduction and spreading of exotic ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Italy and other European countries. Key words. Hyalomma aegyptium, Testudo graeca, Italy, North Africa. The worldwide trade in live reptiles has increased considerably over recent decades (Franke & Telecky, 2001). For instance, it has been estimated that about 1.7 million reptiles were imported into and about 9.3 million were exported from the U.S.A. alone in 1997 (Franke & Telecky, 2001). The high number of animals involved in the world reptile trade has raised concerns about the potential risk for the spread of exotic tick species and the pathogens they transmit. It has been shown that reptiles imported into the U.S.A. are frequently infested by ticks, which can be infected by pathogens of great veterinary concern, such as Ehrlichia ruminantium (Cowdry) and Coxiella burnetii (Derrick), the causative agents of heartwater and Q fever, respectively (Burridge & Simmons, 2003). Thus, the illegal trade in live reptiles represents potential Correspondence: Professor Domenico Otranto, Dipartimento di Sanit` a Pubblica e Zootecnia, Universit` a degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Strada Provinciale per Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy. Tel./Fax: + 39 080 467 9839; E-mail: d.otranto@veterinaria.uniba.it threats to both wildlife conservation and public health (Franke & Telecky, 2001). Testudo graeca L. (Testudines: Testudinidae) (also known as the Eastern spur-thighed tortoise) is an endangered species occurring throughout southeast Europe and Asia Minor as far as Iran, as well as in North Africa (Lever, 2003). It is the most frequently reported host of the tortoise tick Hyalomma aegyptium (L.) (Hoogstraal & Kaiser, 1960; Petney & Al-Yaman, 1985; Robbins et al., 1998; Leontyeva & Kolonin, 2002; ˇ Sirok´ y et al., 2006; Tavassoli et al., 2007). This tick species occurs in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East and penetrates eastwards as far as Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan (Manilla, 1998; ˇ Sirok´ y et al., 2006). In Italy, there are single reports of Hy. aegyptium adults in the  2010 The Authors 336 Journal compilation  2010 The Royal Entomological Society