A new species and new host record of Demodecidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) associated with the bandicoot rat (Rodentia: Muridae) from Lao PDR with data on parasitism and a checklist of the demodecid mites of rodents

Abstract

A new species, Demodex bandicotae sp. nov. (Acariformes: Demodecidae), is described based on adult stages from the hairy skin of the greater bandicoot rat Bandicota indica (Bechstein, 1800), collected in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). Parasites were noted in 41.7% of bandicoot rats, with a mean intensity of 5.6 parasites in the tested skin fragments of the host. This is the first report on Demodecidae mites in rodents of the genus Bandicota Gray, 1873. A checklist of demodecid mites in rodents worldwide is also provided.

Demodex crocidurae, a New Demodecid Mite (Acariformes: Prostigmata) Parasitizing the Lesser White-Toothed Shrew and a Redescription of Demodex talpae from European Mole with Data on Parasitism in Soricomorpha

“…nov. clearly differs from all known Demodecidae species. However, it resembles D. talpae in general body shape, and certain characteristics, namely, the shape of the supracoxal spines and leg claws, which are also observed in several demodecid mites of the Muridae, e.g., D. musculi Oudemans, 1897, D. apodemi Hirst, 1918, D. corniculatus Izdebska, 2012, D. bandicotae Izdebska, Rolbiecki, Morand & Ribas, 2017 [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Although both the two host species, under discussion, belongs to the order Soricomorpha, they are representatives of two separate families, Soricidae and Talpidae, respectively with a doubtful level of affinity [ 11 ].…”

Psorergatidae mite infestation in the brown rat Rattusnorvegicus (Rodentia, Muridae): the first record of Psorergatesrattus (Acariformes, Prostigmata) in Europe

“…It would appear that R. norvegicus, a cosmopolitan and synanthropic species, also used in laboratories and kept as a pet or food animal, is well studied in terms of its acarofauna: over 40 species associated to varying degrees with the host have been observed in Poland alone (Haitlinger and Jankowska, 2005). However, knowledge on skin and tissue mites in the brown rat is fragmentary, and existing studies primarily concern Demodecidae, of which five species have been described (Hirst, 1919;Desch, 1987;Bukva, 1995;Izdebska, 2004;Izdebska and Rolbiecki, 2004, 2014Izdebska et al, 2017), and Sarcoptidae, of which two species are typical rat parasites (Klompen and Nachman, 1990;Klompen, 1992;Bochkov, 2010;Izdebska and Rolbiecki, 2013). Of all groups of skin parasites found in the rat, Psorergatidae has attracted the least scientific attention.…”

The status of Demodex cornei: description of the species and developmental stages, and data on demodecid mites in the domestic dog Canis lupus familiaris

“…It is worth mentioning that several species of mammal have already demonstrated specific infestations by species of the family Demodecidae, associated with different skin and tissue structures. Most species were previously described in the domestic mouse Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 (Rodentia: Muridae), in which seven species have been found in common and sensory hair follicles, scantily hairy skin areas and the genital regions, as well as the ear canals and tongue (Izdebska et al ., ). Therefore, the so‐called ‘short forms’ of Demodex dog mites may belong to different species rather than to only D. cornei .…”

“…Demodecidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) are parasitic mites of mammals usually found on the skin, but also in other tissues. To date, more than 120 species specific to different hosts have been described (Izdebska & Rolbiecki, 2016;Izdebska et al, 2017). As a rule, infestations with these mites are asymptomatic, but they may sometimes cause demodecosis (demodicosis, demodicidosis), of which the form with the highest veterinary importance in domestic dogs is demodecosis canina, a disease with very different symptoms and course (Mueller, 2004;Izdebska, 2010).…”

“…However, in the absence of definitions of the features and taxonomic criteria of D. cornei, there is no certainty as to the status of these forms or as to whether all of the short forms mentioned in these studies belong to the same species. It is worth mentioning that several species of mammal have already demonstrated (Izdebska et al, 2017). Therefore, the so-called 'short forms' of Demodex dog mites may belong to different species rather than to only D. cornei.…”