ABSTRACT
Neoschoengastia gallinarum is widely distributed in Asia, preferentially parasitising birds, and heavy infestations have clinical impacts on domestic fowl. In common with other trombiculid mites, the genetic diversity and potential variation in host preferences or pathology induced by N. gallinarum are poorly understood. This study aimed to unravel the geographical variation and population structure of N. gallinarum collected from galliform birds in Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand by inference from concatenated mitochondrial-encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), and nuclear-encoded internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and 18S ribosomal DNA gene sequences, including a comparison with previously published data from southeastern China. Our multi-locus sequence analysis revealed three monophyletic clades comprising (A) specimens from Peninsular Malaysia, (B) the samples from Thailand together with a minority of Chinese sequences, and (C) the majority of sequences from China. Similarly, most species delimitation approaches divided the specimens into three operational taxonomic units. Analysis of molecular variance revealed 96.41% genetic divergence between Malaysian and Thai populations, further supported by the absence of gene flow (Nm = 0.01). In conclusion, despite the two countries sharing a land border, populations of N. gallinarum from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand appear to be genetically segregated and may represent distinct cryptic species.
ABSTRACT
The exposure of a research team to chigger mites in southern Chile allowed the first identification of a trombiculid species as vector and reservoir of scrub typhus outside the tsutsugamushi triangle, providing unique insights into the ecology and transmission of this recently discovered rickettsial infection in South America.
Subject(s)
Orientia tsutsugamushi , Scrub Typhus , Trombiculidae , Animals , Antarctic Regions , Chile/epidemiology , Humans , Scrub Typhus/epidemiologyABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/parasitology , Dermatitis/veterinary , Larva/classification , Trombiculiasis/veterinary , Trombiculidae/classification , Animals , Brazil , Cats , Mite Infestations/veterinary , Trombiculidae/geneticsABSTRACT
The chigger species Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch & Fauran) has been collected mainly from birds with a few records from reptiles and mammals. In Brazil, this species has been found on birds in the Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states. Here, we report the first record of B. sinnamaryi parasitizing the striped owl, Pseudoscops clamator (Vieillot), in the Paraíba state, Brazil (northeastern region).
A espécie de trombiculídeo, Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch & Fauran) tem sido coletada principalmente parasitando aves, com alguns registros em répteis e mamíferos. No Brasil, essa espécie foi encontrada em aves nos estados de Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro. No presente estudo, relatamos o primeiro registro de B. sinnamaryi parasitando a coruja-listrada, Pseudoscops clamator (Vieillot), no estado da Paraíba, Brasil (região Nordeste)
ABSTRACT
Abstract The chigger species Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch & Fauran) has been collected mainly from birds with a few records from reptiles and mammals. In Brazil, this species has been found on birds in the Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states. Here, we report the first record of B. sinnamaryi parasitizing the striped owl, Pseudoscops clamator (Vieillot), in the Paraíba state, Brazil (northeastern region).
Resumo A espécie de trombiculídeo, Blankaartia sinnamaryi (Floch & Fauran) tem sido coletada principalmente parasitando aves, com alguns registros em répteis e mamíferos. No Brasil, essa espécie foi encontrada em aves nos estados de Minas Gerais e Rio de Janeiro. No presente estudo, relatamos o primeiro registro de B. sinnamaryi parasitando a coruja-listrada, Pseudoscops clamator (Vieillot), no estado da Paraíba, Brasil (região Nordeste).
Subject(s)
Animals , Trombiculidae , Strigiformes , BrazilABSTRACT
Chiggers, the larvae of trombiculid mites, parasitize a wide variety of terrestrial vertebrates worldwide. Their bites cause seasonal trombiculiasis in humans and animals. Affected canines can have a variety of digestive and systemic clinical signs. We describe a case of canine trombiculiasis in a dog exhibiting severe neurologic symptoms.
Subject(s)
Mite Infestations , Nervous System Diseases , Trombiculiasis , Trombiculidae , Animals , Dogs , Humans , Spain/epidemiology , Trombiculiasis/diagnosis , Trombiculiasis/veterinaryABSTRACT
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.
ABSTRACT
Chigger mites are ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates and can cause severe dermatitis in their hosts, known as trombiculiasis. There are 69 recognized species of chiggers in Brazil that parasitize most vertebrate taxa except domestic dogs. In this study, we report the first known record of trombiculiasis with a domestic dog as a host in Brazil. This record additionally represents a new locality record for Eutrombicula daemoni in the country.
ABSTRACT
This study records the clinical findings in nine hunting dogs showing systemic illness associated with trombiculids and identifies the mite species involved. In fall, coinciding with the seasonality of mites, all dogs were infested with mites and had been in the risk area (Sierra Cebollera Natural Park, La Rioja, Spain) a few hours before the onset of symptoms. The symptoms included vomiting, anorexia, weakness and lethargy, diarrhea, and even stupor. The clinical picture was fast-acting and potentially fatal. The infestations varied from low to severe. Molecular analysis of mites that fed on the dogs confirmed that they were larvae of Neotrombicula inopinata (Oudemans, Acari, Trombiculidae). This is the first time that N. inopinata has been identified as feeding on dogs and implicated in canine systemic illness associated with trombiculids. In contrast to other chiggers, N. inopinata does not seem to cause dermatitis. Likewise, the clinical and epidemiological similarity between the clinical symptoms we describe herein and the occurrence of seasonal canine illness (SCI) led us to suspect that this illness may be caused by infestation with these mites. The condition could be the consequence of severe infestation from large numbers of feeding mites, especially N. inopinata. Whether or not the cases were due to a severe allergic host response to salivary proteins or the result of the transmission of a new or emerging trombiculid-borne pathogen is not known.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/parasitology , Trombiculiasis/veterinary , Trombiculidae/physiology , Animals , Dogs , Female , Larva/classification , Larva/growth & development , Larva/physiology , Male , Spain , Trombiculiasis/parasitology , Trombiculidae/classification , Trombiculidae/growth & developmentABSTRACT
O gênero Eutrombicula compreende ca. 80 espécies em todo o mundo, algumas das quais foram relatadas como agentes causadores de irritação severa na pele do hospedeiro, conhecidas como trombiculíase. Seis espécies de Eutrombicula foram registradas no Brasil até o presente, com dois relatos de humanos como hospedeiros. Neste estudo, Eutrombicula tinami (Oudemans) é redescrita e novos registros para os estados de Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina e São Paulo, bem como novas associações de parasitas-hospedeiros com Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Passeriformes, Tinamiformes, Carnívoros, Didelphimorphia e Lagomorpha estão listados. Além disso, são apresentados dois casos detalhados de trombiculíase.
ABSTRACT
Diversity of chigger mites causing trombiculiasis of domestic animals and humans in Europe is greatly underestimated. A number of reports on the attacks of "harvest mite" (Neotrombicula autumnalis) could be based on misidentified chiggers from other species and genera. In this study descriptions of two cases of trombiculiasis are presented, which constitute the first report on the pets' parasitism by the chigger genus Ericotrombidium in Europe. The species Ericotrombidium ibericense is for the first time reported in Portugal as a causative agent of the trombiculiasis entailed extensive alopecic lesions and pruritus in a cat. Ericotrombidium geloti is for the first time reported as a cause of canine trombiculiasis in Crimea. Presence of other Ericotrombidium species on man and domestic animals is highly probable in countries of the Mediterranean basin.
Subject(s)
Alopecia/veterinary , Cat Diseases/parasitology , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Pruritus/veterinary , Trombiculiasis/complications , Trombiculiasis/parasitology , Alopecia/etiology , Animals , Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Cats , Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Dogs , Female , Male , Portugal , Pruritus/etiology , Trombiculiasis/diagnosis , Trombiculidae/anatomy & histology , Trombiculidae/classificationABSTRACT
The Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis) is a profoundly endangered rodent found only in the Central Mojave Desert, Inyo County, California, US. In 2010, severe cases of trombiculiasis, caused by larval Neotrombicula microti mites, were discovered among voles and sympatric small mammals. We evaluated Amargosa voles and sympatric rodents for infestation with N. microti December 2011-November 2012 and evaluated histopathology of ear tissue from 13 actively N. microti-infested Amargosa voles and 10 Amargosa voles with no gross evidence of current or past infestation. Rodents with current infestation had mites visible on tissue, typically ear pinnae, whereas mites were not seen on rodents with presumptive past infestation, but some of these animals had gross tissue scarring and loss consistent with healing from infestation. Ears from infested voles had severe granulocytic and necrotizing dermatitis, most associated with stylostome fragments, whereas few lesions were present in grossly uninfested voles. There was no association between body condition and infestation or severity of lesions. Significantly more voles were infested (37%) with N. microti than sympatric rodents (3%), suggesting that sympatric rodents do not serve as an important source of N. microti exposure to voles. Although this chigger infestation was common and induced severe localized pathology, we did not detect a fitness cost to infestation and recommend further evaluation of the disease to discern its significance in this conservation context.
