A new genus and species of demodecid mites from the tongue of a house mouse Mus musculus: description of adult and immature stages with data on parasitism

Abstract

The study of the parasitofauna of the house mouse Mus musculus (Rodentia: Muridae) Linnaeus is particularly important owing to its multiple relationships with humans - as a cosmopolitan, synanthropic rodent, bred for pets, food for other animals or laboratory animal. This article proposes and describes a new genus and species of the parasitic mite based on adult and immature stages from the house mouse. Glossicodex musculi gen. n., sp. n. is a medium-sized demodecid mite (adult stages on average 199 µm in length) found in mouse tissue of the tongue. It is characterized by two large, hooked claws on each tarsus of the legs; the legs are relatively massive, consisting of large, non-overlapping segments. The palps consist of three slender, clearly separated, relatively narrow segments, wherein their coxal segments are also quite narrow and spaced. Also, segments of the palps of larva and nymphs are clearly isolated, and on the terminal segment, trident claws that resemble legs' claws can be found. On the ventral side, in immature stages, triangular scuta, topped with sclerotized spur, can be also observed. Glossicodex musculi was noted in 10.8% of mice with a mean infection intensity of 2.2 parasites per host.

Ivermectin-compounded Feed Compared with Topical Moxidectin–Imidacloprid for Eradication of Demodex musculi in Laboratory Mice

“…32,55,67,90 Demodecid mites tend to be host-specific and, of the 6 species of Demodex mites identified in wild Mus musculus, only Demodex musculi has been reported in laboratory mice. 14,32,[37][38][39][40]55,67,90 Although the life cycle of D. musculi has not been characterized, the life cycle of human Demodex mites is estimated as 14.5 d according to in vitro experiments, and all life stages (eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults) are found within hair follicles and sebaceous glands. 69,92 Although the effect of Demodex mites on the biology of immunocompetent mice has not been studied, treatment may be necessary in select immunodeficient mouse strains that develop clinical disease, or prior to introducing imported mice into established Demodex mite-free colonies.…”

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

“…An analysis of the taxonomic features recognized as important criteria in the systematics of the Demodecidae family of mites (Izdebska & Rolbiecki, ) shows that D. cornei is a distinct species with features that differ from those of the other species in this family, including D. canis and D. injai , also described in domestic dogs. To date, different demodecid mite species have been described as infecting specific host mammal species, inhabiting different microhabitats, with topical and topographical specificity (Izdebska & Rolbiecki, ).…”

“…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, ; Izdebska et al ., ). 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, ; Izdebska, ).…”

Prevalence and Density of Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis (Acari: Demodicidae) in Erzincan Province

“…Demodex cinsine ait akarlar (Acari), Trombidiformes takımının Demodicidae familyasının bir üyesidir. Bu familya günümüzde sadece memelilerde parazit olarak yaşayan 8 cins ve 116 tür ile temsil edilmektedir (1,2).…”