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Microbiology Spectrum Dec 2022Arthropod pathogens and other microorganisms have been documented from mass production systems aimed at producing natural enemies for pest control. If losses due to...
Arthropod pathogens and other microorganisms have been documented from mass production systems aimed at producing natural enemies for pest control. If losses due to pathogens are encountered in such systems, they could lead to uneconomical production of natural enemies and/or a loss of predator quality for effective field control of target pests. Here, we identify and describe the laboratory transmission of a bacterial pathogen, Acaricomes phytoseiuli, in a Chinese strain of the local predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus following contact with Phytoseiulus persimilis, a predatory mite imported for the control of small sap-sucking pests in greenhouses. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences of isolated from the Chinese strain of showed 99.6 and 99.78% similarity, respectively, to the pathogen isolated from a European population (DSM14247 strain). This is the first report of infected with outside Europe and transmitting to a local predatory mite species. severely damaged local leading to a dorso-ventrally flattened body and reduced prey consumption and reproduction as well as early death. Through fluorescence hybridization, was shown to accumulate in the digestive tract of mites and in the oviductal bulb of adult females. Infected males had no obvious symptoms, but they still were able to pass on the infection to healthy females through contact and mating. The pathogen was transmitted vertically to offspring by either infected parent through adherence to eggshells. could also persist in other herbivorous arthropods from the same habitat, suggesting wider potential risks. Our study highlights pathogen risk to predators in local biocontrol industries through pathogen spread from imported material. Predatory mites are important natural enemies for biological control of pests, but mass rearing of the mites can be affected by pathogens. In particular, the mite pathogen Acaricomes phytoseiuli may pose a threat to predatory mite production, and we have now detected this pathogen in China. We explored the pathogen's transmission within species, its ability to transfer to a locally important predatory mite species, and symptoms following transfer. The detection of and its ability to transfer to a local predator where it reduces performance highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and hygiene in the predatory mite industry.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mites; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Pest Control, Biological
PubMed: 36321911
DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02654-22 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Jun 2021This study aimed to examine the frequency of house dust mite according to various variables and determine the house dust mite population in these provinces in house dust... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Factors Affecting the Prevalence of House Dust Mite in Tekirdağ and İstanbul Provinces in Comparison with House Dust Mite Population of Sivas Province During the Same Period.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine the frequency of house dust mite according to various variables and determine the house dust mite population in these provinces in house dust samples collected in the same period from İstanbul and Tekirdağ provinces, which is located on the coastal part of the Marmara Region, and Sivas province, which has different climatic and geographic characteristics from these provinces. A comparison was done from each province.
METHODS
Between May and August 2018, a total of 100 powder samples were prepared by a lactic acid precipitation method that was examined microscopically. Besides, some variables in Tekirdağ and İstanbul provinces were applied to participants by face-to-face interview method from a questionnaire.
RESULTS
House dust mite was found with a rate of 66.7% in İstanbul and 61.5% in Tekirdağ; however, house dust mite was not found in Sivas province. According to survey results, the frequency of house dust mite detection is 1-4. It increased according to the fact that it is located between floors, cleaning was every 15 days, no smoking at home and insufficient sun exposure. No statistically significant difference was found according to the presence of plants and/or animals in the house and way of heating.
CONCLUSION
Measures to be taken against house a dust mite, which is the most essential component of house dust with allergic content, are observed to be important in reducing complaints of sensitive people by especially considering the climate, geographic characteristics and general hygienic conditions. According to investigations, , one of the mites detected in dust samples taken from İstanbul, has been determined to be a new record in Turkey. This study will contribute to Turkey with this aspect fauna of house dust mites.
Topics: Animals; Dust; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Prevalence; Pyroglyphidae; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Turkey
PubMed: 34103292
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2020.7056 -
Parasites & Vectors Feb 2021Small mammals are important maintenance hosts of ectoparasites as well as reservoir hosts for many arthropod-borne pathogens. In Germany, only a few studies have...
BACKGROUND
Small mammals are important maintenance hosts of ectoparasites as well as reservoir hosts for many arthropod-borne pathogens. In Germany, only a few studies have investigated ectoparasite communities on small mammals in their natural habitats. The aim of this study was to assess the species diversity and parameters influencing the mean intensity and prevalence of macroscopically visible ectoparasites, such as fleas, predatory mites and ticks.
METHODS
A total of 779 small mammals and 3383 ticks were available from earlier investigations for the data analysis of the current study from three differently structured study sites. In addition, fleas and predatory mites were collected from the captured rodents and taxonomically identified. Regression analyses were conducted on the group (ticks/mites/fleas) and species levels using hurdle models for the abundance of ectoparasite groups and a negative binomial model for the abundance of species.
RESULTS
Nearly 90% of the small mammals analyzed were infested with ectoparasites, with an average of 7.3 specimens per host. Hosts were infested with up to six species of ectoparasites simultaneously. In total, 12 flea, 11 mite and three tick species were detected. Ticks were more prevalent than fleas or mites, with > 80% of the hosts in urban and forest areas hosting ticks and around 60% of hosts presenting fleas, and only 20-40% of hosts presenting mites. Polyparasitism had a statistically significant influence on the prevalence of the investigated tick, mite and flea species, with odds ratios of > 1.0. Trapping location, season and host characteristics had significant influences on some-but not all-of the investigated species.
CONCLUSIONS
The diversity of flea species was unexpectedly high and higher than that reported in comparable studies, which can be explained by the differently structured habitats and regions examined in this study. Polyparasitism was a key influencing factor and had a positive effect on the prevalence and/or abundance of the predominant tick, flea and mite species occurring on small mammals. Season, trapping location, host species and sex of the host species also had an influence on the prevalence and mean intensity of certain, but not all, ectoparasite species.
Topics: Animals; Ecosystem; Female; Germany; Host-Parasite Interactions; Male; Mites; Rodentia; Seasons; Siphonaptera; Ticks
PubMed: 33596984
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04615-7 -
Parasites & Vectors Jan 2022The possibility that Dermanyssus gallinae, the poultry red mite, could act as a vector of infectious disease-causing pathogens has always intrigued researchers and... (Review)
Review
The possibility that Dermanyssus gallinae, the poultry red mite, could act as a vector of infectious disease-causing pathogens has always intrigued researchers and worried commercial chicken farmers, as has its ubiquitous distribution. For decades, studies have been carried out which suggest that there is an association between a wide range of pathogens and D. gallinae, with the transmission of some of these pathogens mediated by D. gallinae as vector. The latter include the avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis and Gallinarum and influenza virus. Several approaches have been adopted to investigate the relationship between D. gallinae and pathogens. In this comprehensive review, we critically describe available strategies and methods currently available for conducting trials, as well as outcomes, analyzing their possible strengths and weaknesses, with the aim to provide researchers with useful tools for correctly approach the study of the vectorial role of D. gallinae.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Disease Vectors; Mite Infestations; Mites; Poultry; Poultry Diseases
PubMed: 35057849
DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05142-1 -
Chang Gung Medical Journal Aug 2004The most important house dust mites are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and in drier areas D. farinae. In subtropical and tropical regions the glycyphagid mite Blomia... (Review)
Review
The most important house dust mites are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and in drier areas D. farinae. In subtropical and tropical regions the glycyphagid mite Blomia tropicalis is a major source of allergen, which co-exists with D. pteronyssinus. The group 1 and 2 allergens of Dermatophagoides mites are clearly major specificities and it is likely that these allergens could be the basis of new strategies of immunotherapy for many mite-allergic subjects. About 20% of patients, however, do not have IgE antibody to the group 1 and 2 allergens, and even though this is a minority, it constitutes a large population. There are also many other house dust mite allergens which have high IgE binding activity but these are present in low and variable concentrations in mite extracts, usually at less than 1% of the group 1 and 2 allergens. It must be appreciated that mite extracts are arbitrary preparations that do not accurately represent the relative concentrations of allergens in inhaled air. There is now the opportunity to produce more representative and more balanced formulations of allergens, possibly by mixtures of recombinant allergens. It is likely that the group 3, 5, 7 and 9 allergens will be important along with the high molecular weight group 11, 14, 15 and 18. The tropomyosin group 10 may be an important cross-reacting allergen. B. tropicalis is, because of its distribution in highly populated regions with increasing affluence, a very important allergen. It has low-grade cross-reactivity with Dermatophagoides but most allergens only have 30-40% sequence identity between the different families so they require different allergens for immunotherapy and new diagnostic measures are required to distinguish the sensitivity between the mite families. Studies on B. tropicalis allergens are required to identify the major allergens that do not appear to be the group land 2 specificities. Component resolved diagnosis is a newly developing procedure that uses allergen arrays to provide a diagnostic format to differentiate between cross-reacting allergens and to identify the optimal formulation of allergens for different patients.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Dust; Humans; Mites; Polymorphism, Genetic
PubMed: 15553602
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Investigational Allergology... Feb 2021
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Cross Reactions; Dust; Food Hypersensitivity; Gryllidae; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Mites; Pyroglyphidae; Tenebrio
PubMed: 33978587
DOI: 10.18176/jiaci.0707 -
Parasites & Vectors Aug 2014Domestic mite species found in indoor environments and in warm or tropical regions are well known for causing allergic disorders. However, little is known about human... (Review)
Review
Domestic mite species found in indoor environments and in warm or tropical regions are well known for causing allergic disorders. However, little is known about human acariasis, in which mites invade and parasitize the human body in various tissues from the gastrointestinal tract to the lung. Here, we summarize the reported cases of human acariasis of pulmonary, intestinal, oral (anaphylaxis), urinary, otic, and vaginal systems. Because the clinical symptoms of acariasis often overlap with other disease symptoms leading to frequent misdiagnosis, we highlight the need for more attention on these infections.
Topics: Allergens; Animals; Humans; Mite Infestations; Mites
PubMed: 25175486
DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-411 -
Veterinary Parasitology Jul 2023The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is a major threat for the poultry industry worldwide. Chemical compounds have been extensively used for PRM control,...
The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is a major threat for the poultry industry worldwide. Chemical compounds have been extensively used for PRM control, leading to selection of resistant mites. Molecular mechanisms of resistance have been investigated in arthropods, showing the role of target-site insensitivity and enhanced detoxification. Few studies are available about those mechanisms in D. gallinae, and none have yet focused on the expression levels of detoxification enzymes and other defense-related genes through RNA-seq. We tested PRM populations from Italy for their susceptibility to the acaricidal compounds phoxim and cypermethrin. Mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (vgsc) and in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were investigated, detecting mutations known to be associated with acaricide/insecticide resistance in arthropods, including M827I and M918L/T in the vgsc and G119S in the AChE. RNA-seq analysis was performed to characterize metabolic resistance in fully susceptible PRM and in cypermethrin-resistant PRM exposed and unexposed to cypermethrin as well as phoxim resistant PRM exposed and unexposed to phoxim. Detoxification enzymes (including P450 monooxygenases and glutathione-S-transferases), ABC transporters and cuticular proteins were constitutively overexpressed in phoxim and cypermethrin resistant mites. In addition, heat shock proteins were found constitutively and inductively upregulated in phoxim resistant mites, while in cypermethrin resistant mites esterases and an aryl hydrocarbon receptor were constitutively highly expressed. The findings suggest that acaricide resistance in D. gallinae is due to both target-site insensitivity and overexpression of detoxification enzymes and other xenobiotic defense-related genes, which is mostly constitutive and not induced by treatment. Understanding the molecular basis of resistance could be useful to screen or test PRM populations in order to select targeted acaricides and to avoid the abuse/misuse of the few available compounds.
Topics: Animals; Acaricides; Acetylcholinesterase; Mites; Poultry; Trombiculidae; Chickens; Poultry Diseases; Mite Infestations
PubMed: 37207568
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.109957 -
Scientific Reports May 2020The northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, is one of the most common and damaging ectoparasites of poultry. As an obligate blood feeding mite, the northern fowl...
The northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum, is one of the most common and damaging ectoparasites of poultry. As an obligate blood feeding mite, the northern fowl mite can cause anaemia, slower growth, and decreased egg production of parasitized birds. However, the impact of mites or other ectoparasites on hen behaviour or welfare is not well studied. Here, we use activity sensors (three-axis accelerometers) affixed to individual birds to continuously record hen movement before, during, and after infestation with mites. Movements recorded by sensors were identified to specific bird behaviours through a previously trained algorithm, with frequency of these behaviours recorded for individual birds. Hen welfare was also determined before, during, and after mite infestation of hens using animal-based welfare metrics. Northern fowl mites significantly increased hen preening behaviour and resulted in increased skin lesions of infested birds.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Animals; Chickens; Mites; Skin Diseases
PubMed: 32427882
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65021-0 -
Communications Biology May 2023Dermanyssus gallinae is a blood-feeding mite that parasitises wild birds and farmed poultry. Its remarkably swift processing of blood, together with the capacity to...
Dermanyssus gallinae is a blood-feeding mite that parasitises wild birds and farmed poultry. Its remarkably swift processing of blood, together with the capacity to blood-feed during most developmental stages, makes this mite a highly debilitating pest. To identify specific adaptations to digestion of a haemoglobin-rich diet, we constructed and compared transcriptomes from starved and blood-fed stages of the parasite and identified midgut-enriched transcripts. We noted that midgut transcripts encoding cysteine proteases were upregulated with a blood meal. Mapping the full proteolytic apparatus, we noted a reduction in the suite of cysteine proteases, missing homologues for Cathepsin B and C. We have further identified and phylogenetically analysed three distinct transcripts encoding vitellogenins that facilitate the reproductive capacity of the mites. We also fully mapped transcripts for haem biosynthesis and the ferritin-based system of iron storage and inter-tissue trafficking. Additionally, we identified transcripts encoding proteins implicated in immune signalling (Toll and IMD pathways) and activity (defensins and thioester-containing proteins), RNAi, and ion channelling (with targets for commercial acaricides such as Fluralaner, Fipronil, and Ivermectin). Viral sequences were filtered from the Illumina reads and we described, in part, the RNA-virome of D. gallinae with identification of a novel virus, Red mite quaranjavirus 1.
Topics: Animals; Poultry; Mite Infestations; RNA-Seq; Virome; Chickens; Poultry Diseases; Mites
PubMed: 37179447
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04907-x