Fauna of Laelapidae (Mesostigmata; Dermanyssoidea) mites from small rodents in Lithuania

Abstract

Laelapidae mites associated with small rodents are one of the most important groups of parasitic mesostigmatic mites in Europe. Small rodents play a significant role in the transmission of diseases to humans and animals, as they are reservoir hosts of pathogenic microorganisms. Laelapidae mites parasitaizing rodents are potential vectors for parasitic zoonoses like babesiosis, plague and others. Information of parasitic Laelapidae mites from small rodents is scarce in Baltic countries, especially in Lithuania. The aim of this study was to analyze laelapid mites and evaluate their infestation patterns in different rodent species from Lithuania. A total of 728 rodents representing 8 species were collected in different locations in Lithuania during 2013 – 2016 and identified as Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, Myodes glareolus, Micromys minutus, M. musculus, Microtus oeconomus, M. arvalis and M. agrestis. The overall 47.3% small rodents were found to be infested with 8 species of parasitic laelapid mites (n=1363): Laelaps agilis, L. hilaris, Hyperlaelaps microti, Haemogamasus nidi, Hg. hirsutus, Eulaelaps stabularis, Hirstionyssus sunci and Myonyssus gigas. The dominant species of mites found on rodents was L. agilis (89.1%). The values of abundance and mean intensity of infestation with mites varied between species of hosts, and were highest for A. flavicollis. In present study we documented new geographical and host records for mesostigmatic mites in Lithuania.