Annotated checklist of chigger mites (Trombidiformes: Leeuwenhoekiidae, Trombiculidae and Walchiidae) in Sri Lanka.

Chigger mites (Leeuwenhoekiidae, Trombiculidae, and Walchiidae) are parasites of any terrestrial vertebrate. The present study updates the list of chigger mite (Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae, and Walchiidae) species recorded from Sri Lanka along with taxonomic classification based on previous investigations since 1946 to date and our observations in western and southern parts of the country. This checklist listed 15 species in 9 genera within the three chigger families. For now, murid species were the host most sampledparasitized by chiggers in Sri Lanka. However, further studies are required to increase the diversity of chigger mites in Sri Lanka and probably the description of new species, which will be possible with morphological and molecular characterization.

Batmanacarus robini, n. gen., n. sp. (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) collected parasitizing a ghost-faced bat (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) from a cave in Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidad and Tobago, a neotropical country, has 38 reported chigger species. Of these species, 18 were parasitizing bats. Here, we describe a new genus and species parasitizing a ghost-faced bat in this country.

First record of Eutrombicula tinami (Oudemans, 1910) (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) parasitizing a cat in Brazil.

Chigger mites are ectoparasites of terrestrial tetrapods and can cause dermatitis in the host, known as trombiculiasis. In Brazil, there are 73 species of chiggers; however, cats never have recorded as a host in this country. Here, we report the first record of chiggers parasitizing a domestic cat in Brazil; and a new locality for Eutrombicula tinami (Oudemans 1910) in the Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil.

Investigation of a gamasid mite infestation in a UK textile mill caused by Dermanyssus gallinae (DeGeer, 1778) (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae) special lineage L1.

A recurrent mite infestation affecting a room used to inspect fabric in a UK textile mill was investigated to allay concerns of any potential health risks to factory staff, and to inform the unknown risk of downgrading of the product. The approach integrated conventional morphological examination of adult female mites by referring to published identification keys, with molecular speciation based on amplification of a 16S ribosomal DNA fragment. The methods enabled the mites to be unambiguously identified as Dermanyssus gallinae 'special lineage L1'. Subsequent investigations showed the source of infestation to be pigeons nesting in the air ducts, with the gamasid mites moving into the room once the young birds had fledged. This is the first report of D. gallinae 'special lineage L1' in northern Europe. Previous reports of nosocominal gamasoidosis caused by D. gallinae 'special lineage L1' originating from feral pigeon populations have been from southern Europe. Confirmation of the mite identity was important in allowing the mill to take remedial and preventive action. In this clinical communication, we provide images of the key morphological features used to identify D. gallinae and describe a molecular protocol to confirm 'special lineage L1'.

Description of Blankaartia shatrovi n. sp. (Acari: Trombiculidae) From Brazil.

The chigger mite genus Blankaartia includes 28 known species, of which 10 are distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. These species preferentially parasitize birds, but occasionally they can also be found on rodents, bats, and reptiles, showing low host selectivity. In the present study, we report the presence of this genus in Brazil for the first time, including the first report of Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch and Fauran) and the description of a new species of Blankaartia collected from birds (Order Passeriformes).

Ectoparasites of small-mammals: determinants of community structure in South American savannah.

This study aimed to assess the contribution of hosts characteristics (rodents and marsupials) in the organization of ectoparasite communities present in woodland patches in western central Brazil. We verified the effect of host species, sex, body mass and vertical strata in addition to the role of seasonality on the ectoparasite composition, richness and abundance. The total sampling effort was 22 032 trap-nights equally distributed in 54 woodland patches. Variance partition and principal coordinate analysis were used to verify the existence of significant relationships between response variables and predictors. As expected, host species was the most important variable in ectoparasite community assembly. The composition, richness and abundance of mites and lice were highly influenced by host species, although higher for mites than for lice. Host body mass had a determining role on the richness and abundance of tick species. Vertical stratification and seasonality had weak influence, while the sex of the host had no influence on the organization of these communities. The results are closely related to the evolutionary characteristics of the species involved, as well as with local environmental characteristics of the study area.

Technique for restoration of mite (Acari) preparations in deteriorated Hoyer's medium.

The Acari Collection of Instituto Butantan (IBSP), São Paulo, Brazil, includes many types and other identified mite specimens that were mounted in Hoyer's medium, mainly in the first part of last century. An effort to restore degraded preparations was initiated in 1996. In this process, an improved technique was developed, allowing the adequate cleaning of specimens mounted up to 50-70 years before. Types and other identified specimens of Trombidiformes (Harpirhynchidae and Trombiculidae), Sarcoptiformes (Acaridae, Atopomelidae, Listrophoridae, and Psoroptidae) and Mesostigmata (Dermanyssidae, Ixodorhynchidae, Laelapidae, Macronyssidae, and Spinturnicidae) deposited at IBSP Collection have been satisfactorily restored.