DNA analysis of parasitic Dermanyssoidea mite species from small rodents in Lithuania

Abstract

Dermanyssoidea (Mesostigmata) mites are facultative and obligate parasites, which distinguished by microscopic size and usually found on small mammals. Dermanyssoidea is an extremely diverse mite superfamily. The species identification of Dermanyssoidea mites due to their morphological similarity is complicated. Identification is also aggravated by a lack of knowledge on this mites family, as there is relatively little information on the morphological characteristics that can be used as taxonomic keys. Therefore, DNA-based molecular methods could be useful tools for accurate identification of dermanyssoid mites. The aim of this study was to genetically characterize mites parasitizing small rodents using molecular methods. A total of 413 parasitic mites were collected from small rodents of six different species caught in Lithuania during 2015-2016. For taxonomic molecular analysis, 31 specimens from different rodent hosts were selected. After primary morphological analysis, using appropriate identification key, six species of ectoparasites were identified as Laelaps agilis, Lealaps hilaris, Hyperlaelaps microti, Haemogamassus nidi, Eulaelaps stabularis and Myonyssus gigas. For the determination of phylogenetic relationships among dermanyssoid mites, the 28S region (domains 1-3) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA was used. Sequences were edited, aligned and subjected to phylogenetic analysis using Mega 6.0 software. The present study is the first genetic characterization of L. agilis, L. hilaris, H. microti, Hg. nidi, E. stabularis and M. gigas mites. Our results provide new information on phylogeny of Laelapidae mites.