Demodex species (Acari:Demodecidae) parasitizing the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia): redescription of Demodex ratti and description of D. norvegicus sp. n. and D. ratticola sp. n.

Based on materials collected from wild populations of the brown rat. Rattus norvegicus in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, previously unknown male is described and female redescribed for Demodex ratti Hirst, 1917. All developmental stages are described for two new species, D. norvegicus sp. n. and D. ratticola sp. n. Also provided is a key to adults of four Demodex species presently known to parasitize Rattus norvegicus. Demodex ratti was recovered from the host's back, eyelids, and external auditory meatus, D. norvegicus from the anal and genital areas, and D. ratticola from vicinity of the mouth and the tip of muzzle.

Demodex neomydis sp. n. (Acari: Demodecidae) from the hair follicles of the Mediterranean water shrew, Neomys anomalus (Insectivora: Soricidae).

Demodex neomydis sp. n. from the Mediterranean water shrew, Neomys anomalus, is described as a new species in all developmental stages. This demodecid is classified as a member of the genus Demodex Owen, 1843, but shows several morphological characters described in Soricidex dimorphus Bukva, 1982 and which are absent or very infrequent in other known Demodex species, viz., in the adult stage, a pair of shelf-like lamellae on the dorsum of the podosoma, dorso-lateral extension of the podosoma over the basal part of the gnathosoma, multiple opisthosomal organ in the male, and podosomal position of the vulva in the female. Immature stages of D. neomydis have unusual inflated idiosoma and dorsad deflected gnathosoma. All developmental stages of D. neomydis were found in the lumen of the hair follicles on the host's muzzle, causing no gross pathological response. On histological level, the main pathological change was distension of infested hair follicles by accumulations of up to a dozen mites, which appear to feed on the epithelial cells of the hair follicle walls.

Sexual dimorphism in the hair follicle mites (Acari: Demodecidae): scanning electron microscopy of Soricidex dimorphus.

Sexually dimorphic features of adult males and females of Soricidex dimorphus, a species unparalleled in its dimorphism by any described representative of the family Demodecidae, are compared by scanning electron microscopy. The account of sexual dimorphism in S. dimorphus is preceded by a review of sexually dimorphic features in other demodecid genera. Minute constituents of general morphology of demodecid mites such as claws, solenidia and spines of legs or palps, dorsal podosomal tubercles, and integumental slits and pores, part of which are reported and/or shown in scanning electron micrographs for the first time, are also receiving detailed attention.

Transmission of Demodex flagellurus (Acari: Demodicidae) in the house mouse, Mus musculus, under laboratory conditions.

Transmission of Demodex flagellurus Bukva, 1985 inhabiting the preputial and clitoral glands of the house mouse, Mus musculus L., was studied in mating experiments using pairs of infested, feral X mite-free, white laboratory mice. Spontaneous transfer of mites between sexually active hosts of the opposite sex, presumably through copulation, is reported for the first time for the hair-follicle mites under controlled conditions. Transfer of mites from host mother to her progeny was also proven. A comparatively low transmission effectiveness was observed in both modes of transmission, being 9.5% in adult-to-adult transmission and 14.8% in mother-to-young transmission.

Three species of the hair follicle mites (Acari: Demodicidae) parasitizing the sheep, Ovis aries L.

Evidence of three distinct Demodex species parasitizing the sheep is given for the first time. A newly distinguished Demodex sp. is described, and diagnostic characters are compared for Demodex ovis Hirst, 1919, D. aries Desch, 1983, and Demodex sp. Information on prevalence, distribution in the tissues, and pathogenicity of these three Demodex species in 132 head of sheep in Czechoslovakia is presented, with a review of such data published to date.

Observations on the morphology of the hair follicle mites (Acari: Demodicidae) from Cervus elaphus L., 1758 including description of Demodex acutipes sp. n.

Morphology of Demodex acutipes sp. n. and Demodex sp. parasitizing the red deer, Cervus elaphus L., 1758 is described and diagnostic characters of three Demodex species from this host are compared.

Pathological process induced by Demodex sp. (Acari: Demodicidae) in the skin of eland, Taurotragus oryx (Pallas).

Taxonomic characters of Demodex sp. (near to D. kutzeri Bukva, 1987) are described and discussed. Pronounced, disperse, chronic, multinodular folliculitis induced by this hair follicle inhabitant in the skin of eland, Taurotragus oryx, is described at the histological level.

Demodex kutzeri sp. n. (Acari: Demodicidae), an identical parasite of two species of deer, Cervus elaphus and C. nippon pseudaxis.

Reports on demodicid mites of the old world species of deer are reviewed and Demodex kutzeri sp. n. (= D. cervi sensu Kutzer and Grünberg 1972; part.) described in all stages of the life cycle. The occurrence of D. kutzeri on two host species, Cervus elaphus L., 1758 and C. nippon pseudaxis Eydoux et Souleyet, 1841 is reported and discussed as a rare phenomenon in the genus Demodex.

Demodex tauri sp. n. (Acari: Demodicidae), a new parasite of cattle.

A new species, Demodex tauri sp. n., is described in all stages of the life cycle from the hair follicles and ducts of the sebaceous glands on the eyelids of cattle in Czechoslovakia. It is compared with other demodicids described from cattle. Observations on the prevalence, habitat, and pathogenicity of the new species are presented.

[The first occurrence of demodicosis in cattle in Czechoslovakia]. / První nálezy demodikózy skotu v Ceskoslovensku.

Demodectic lesions were found in 37 per cent out of the total number of seventy-five cows examined by palpation in a large cow-house in South Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. These lesions were intradermal nodules, mostly 2 to 6 mm in diameter, located in the corium in the anterior parts of the body. The animals had 1 to 75 lesions (on the average 11.6). Their age was three to seven years. Their overall health condition was good and their behaviour was not affected. Microscopic examination revealed large numbers of Demodex bovis Stiles, 1892, causative agent of demodicosis, in the contents of nodules in five out of six examined animals. Histopathological changes in two nodules were characterized by inflammatory granulomatous structures containing large numbers of mites, epithelioid cells with rich, pale cytoplasm, giant cells of the foreign body type, and inflammatory infiltrates consisting mostly of lymphocytes. Fibroproduction in the contents of granulomas and along their periphery was markedly low.

Demodex flagellurus sp. n. (Acari: Demodicidae) from the preputial and clitoral glands of the house mouse, Mus musculus L.

An extremely large new demodicid, Demodex flagellurus sp. n., is described in all stages of its life cycle from the house mouse, Mus musculus L. Its habitat, the preputial and clitoral glands, is reported as new for demodicid mites. Adaptations to habitat, host transfer, and the potential of this species as a useful model in experimental studies on demodicid biology are discussed.

Demodex foveolator sp. n. (Acari: Demodicidae), a new epidermis-dwelling parasite of Crocidura suaveolens (Pallas, 1821).

A new species, Demodex foveolator, is described in all stages of the life cycle from the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens (Pallas, 1821). The species inhabits epidermal pits and apparently is a low-grade pathogen. A suggested trait of structural adaptations of epithelia-dwelling demodicids to their habitats is briefly discussed.

New findings of mesostigmatic mites from rodents in the territory of Afghanistan.

A survey is given of mesostigmatic mites collected in Afghanistan from 7 species of rodents. From a total of 11 mite species identified Laelaps echidninus, L. nuttalli, Haemogamasus gyrinodes and Androlaelaps longipes were found in Afghanistan for the first time.