調查及防治寄生於進口陸龜的壁蝨及其媒介之艾利希體病

Abstract

從非洲出口的陸龜經常發現到壁蝨寄生的問題，這些不同品種的壁蝨可以媒介許多艾利希體疾病。因此，將這些帶有壁蝨寄生的陸龜進行國際貿易時，很有可能也同時將艾利希體疾病散播到非疫區國家。本研究欲調查進口陸龜的壁蝨寄生情形及其媒介之艾利希體病，並評估藉由進口陸龜將艾利希體病傳播至台灣的可能性，以及找出可行的方法防治此一風險。針對進口陸龜的壁蝨寄生情形進行調查並且以多套式聚合酶鏈鎖反應偵測壁蝨是否媒介艾利希體病源，而水心病為首要分析之疾病。本研究調查27間寵物店，並未發現有壁蝨寄生於進口陸龜之體表，但其中17間寵物店家表示曾發現進口陸龜有壁蝨寄生的問題。此外，百滅寧 (permethrin) 為目前最安全、有效且可使用於陸龜的驅外寄生蟲藥物，而台灣市面上只有益百分®(Advantix®, Bayer)含有此種藥物。本研究將益百分®使用於赫曼陸龜體表並進行安全性評估，實驗結果顯示益百分®可安全使用於陸龜。根據本研究結果，壁蝨寄生於進口陸龜的比例極低，且台灣主要的壁蝨優勢種也無法媒介水心病。因此，藉由進口陸龜媒介水心病進入台灣為可忽略的風險，且對進口陸龜使用驅外寄生蟲藥物為防制此風險之可行的辦法。

Tortoises exported from Africa are often found infested with ticks, several species of ticks are known vectors of ehrlichiosis. Therefore, international trade of tortoises infested with ticks poses risks for disseminating ehrlichiosis to non-endemic countries. We aim to assess the potential risk of transmitting tick-borne ehrlichiosis into Taiwan through imported tortoises and to develop a practical strategy to control the risk. Imported tortoises are checked for the status of tick-infestation and tested for potential ehrlichiosis by multiplex PCR, and heartwater is the first priority for analysis. 27 pet shops are surveyed and none of the tortoise is infested, but 17 owners had seen ticks infested on tortoises. Permethrin is an effective and safe acaricide for tortoises, Advantix® (Bayer) is the only one commercialized acaricide contained it in Taiwan. Hermann's tortoise is selected for safety evaluation and the result showed Advantix® is enabled use on tortoises. According to the results, the percentage of tortoises infested with ticks is extremely low, and major tick fauna in Taiwan is not associated with heartwater. So the potential risk of transmitting heartwater through imported tortoises is negligible and application the acaricide onto imported tortoises will be a suitable measure for control the risk.