Trombiculiasis in domestic goats and humans in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

Trombiculiasis is an infestation caused by larval mites (chiggers) of the family Trombiculidae. Here, we provide the first report on parasitism by the chigger species Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Oudemans) and Eutrombicula batatas (Linnaeus) in goats and humans on farms in the state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. Severe itching and dermatitis caused by the chiggers' bites were seen. From a total of 779 examined goats, 214 of them showed clinical signs of infestation, as well as family members of three farms of the region. Most of the cases occurred during the rainy season, from March to September.Keywords: Chiggers, parasitism, northeastern Brazil. ResumoTrombiculíase é uma infestação causada por larvas de ácaros da família Trombiculidae. Nós reportamos pela primeira vez parasitismo por ácaros das espécies Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Oudemans) and Eutrombicula batatas (Linnaeus) em cabras e humanos em fazendas no estado do Maranhão, nordeste do Brasil. Foram observadas dermatite e coceiras severas causadas pelas picadas de trombiculídeos. De um total de 779 cabras examinadas, 214 delas apresentaram sinais clínicos de infestações, assim como membros de três famílias de fazendeiros da região. A maioria dos casos ocorreu durante a estação chuvosa, de março a setembro.Palavras-chave: Trombiculídeos, parasitismo, nordeste do Brasil.

A checklist of chiggers from Brazil, including new records (Acari: Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae)

“…Confalonieri and De Carvalho (1973) found E. batatas parasitizing G. domesticus in Mangaratiba (Rio de Janeiro). This species was also found parasitizing equines in Cáceres (Mato Grosso) (Confalonieri and Benez 1976) and on goats in Maranhão state (Faccini et al 2017). …”

“…There are additional records from Chapada do Araripe (Ceará) on Tropidurus hispidus (Squamata) (Delfino et al 2011) and from Morro do Chapéu (Bahia), on Tropidurus hispidus , Tropidurus cocorobensis , Tropidurus semitaeniatus and Tropidurus erythrocephalus (Menezes et al 2011). Recently this species was found parasitizing goats in Maranhão state (Faccini et al 2017). …”

Genomes of trombidid mites reveal novel predicted allergens and laterally-transferred genes associated with secondary metabolism

“…Although the propensity of chiggers to cause pruritic dermatitis is well recognised in humans and other animals [35-38], the identity of the allergens involved has not been established [110]. The L. deliense and D. tinctorium genomes were predicted to encode 37 and 33 groups of protein allergens, respectively; substantially more than other sequenced mites in the Acariformes with the exception of the dust mites, D. farinae [77] and E. maynei [111].…”

“…[34]. Furthermore, chiggers have direct impacts worldwide by causing trombiculiasis, which is a highly pruritic dermatitis that can afflict humans, companion animals and domestic ruminants, potentially leading to severe hypersensitivity [35-38].…”

<b>Chigger mites (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) of birds from Brazilian southeastern</b>: morphological studies and investigation of the presence of <i>Rickettsia</i> spp.

“…They had contact with parrots and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Faccini et al (2017) reported cases of trombiculiasis in goats and humans in the state of Maranhão.…”