Demodex phocidi (Acariformes: Demodecidae) from Phoca vitulina (Carnivora: Phocidae) – the second observation in the world and a supplement to the species description

Abstract

The present study describes a finding of the demodecid mite Demodex phocidi in the seal Phoca vitulina in the Baltic Sea. This is the first identification in Europe and the second in the world. This is also the first observation of the Demodecidae family in the pinnipeds outside North America. A high density of demodecid mites was observed in the skin of the examined seal, but no symptoms of parasitosis were observed. Our findings also supplement the taxonomic description and morphometry of D. phocidi.

A New Species of Demodex (Acariformes: Prostigmata) Observed in the Mouflon, Ovis aries musimon (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) with Data on the Parasitism and Occurrence of Other Ectoparasites

“…Demodex musimonis sp. nov. occurred sparsely and asymptomatically, which is typical of such mite infestations among wild mammals, e.g., [ 53 , 54 ]. Ixodes ricinus , on the other hand, probably had no pathogenic significance as a parasite, but its role in mouflon with regard to pathogen transmission is unknown.…”

Morphological and ontogenetic characteristics of Miridex putorii (Acariformes: Demodecidae), a new genus and species of skin mite specific to the European polecat Mustela putorius

“…In other carnivorans, particularly wild species, demodecid mites are only reported from isolated publications. Thus far, two species have been found in bears ( Xu et al, 1986 ; Desch, 1995 ), two in large felids ( Shi et al, 1985 ; Desch, 1993 ) and two in pinnipeds ( Dailey and Nutting, 1979 ; Desch et al, 2003 ; Izdebska and Rolbiecki, 2020 ; Izdebska et al, 2020 ). In addition, only three demodecid mite species have been described among the species-rich mustelid group: Demodex melesinus Hirst, 1921 from the European badger Meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758) described from the United Kingdom and Poland ( Hirst, 1921 ; Izdebska et al, 2018 ), D. lutrae Izdebska et Rolbiecki, 2014 from the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758) ( Izdebska and Rolbiecki, 2014 ; Rolbiecki and Izdebska, 2014 ), described from Poland, and D. erminae Hirst, 1919 from the ermine Mustela erminea Linnaeus, 1758, found in the United Kingdom and New Zealand ( Hirst, 1919 ; Nutting et al, 1975 ).…”

The Biodiversity of Demodecid Mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata), Specific Parasites of Mammals with a Global Checklist and a New Finding for Demodex sciurinus

“…They are stationary parasites, with their whole life cycle spent on the host; however, depending on the species, its topography, seasonal dynamics and transmission mechanism, they may exhibit a variable level of infestation prevalence, which may reach up to 100% [1,2]. Typically, the presence of demodecid mites does not produce disease symptoms, even at high infestation intensity and high density on the skin [3][4][5]. However, under favorable host circumstances, the high density of these mites may be linked to the development of demodecosis (formerly demodicosis, demodicidosis).…”