Demodex phocidi (Acariformes: Demodecidae) from Phoca vitulina (Carnivora: Phocidae) – the second observation in the world and a supplement to the species description

Abstract The present study describes a finding of the demodecid mite Demodex phocidi in the seal Phoca vitulina in the Baltic Sea. This is the first identification in Europe and the second in the world. This is also the first observation of the Demodecidae family in the pinnipeds outside North America. A high density of demodecid mites was observed in the skin of the examined seal, but no symptoms of parasitosis were observed. Our findings also supplement the taxonomic description and morphometry of D. phocidi.

[1]  J. Izdebska,et al.  Morphological and ontogenetic characteristics of Demodex plecoti sp. nov. (Acariformes: Demodecidae) from the brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), with comments on parasitism , 2019, Systematic and Applied Acarology.

[2]  J. Izdebska,et al.  Nasopharyngeal mites Halarachne halichoeri (Allman, 1847) parasitizing the gray seal Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791) in the Baltic Sea with notes on other parasitic Halarachnidae associated with marine mammals , 2018, Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies.

[3]  J. Izdebska,et al.  Demodex melesinus (Acariformes: Demodecidae) — the forgotten European badger parasite, rediscovered after 100 years , 2018, Acta Parasitologica.

[4]  J. Izdebska,et al.  The status of Demodex cornei: description of the species and developmental stages, and data on demodecid mites in the domestic dog Canis lupus familiaris , 2018, Medical and veterinary entomology.

[5]  J. Izdebska,et al.  Demodex castoris sp. nov. (Acari: Demodecidae) parasitizing Castor fiber (Rodentia), and other parasitic arthropods associated with Castor spp. , 2016, Diseases of aquatic organisms.

[6]  J. Izdebska,et al.  Demodex lutrae n. sp. (Acari) in European Otter Lutra lutra (Carnivora: Mustelidae) with Data from Other Demodecid Mites in Carnivores , 2014, The Journal of parasitology.

[7]  J. Izdebska,et al.  New Species of Demodex (Acari: Demodecidae) With Data on Parasitism and Occurrence of Other Demodecids of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae) , 2014 .

[8]  J. Izdebska,et al.  New data on the parasites of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) , 2014 .

[9]  J. Izdebska,et al.  The occurrence of Demodex kutzeri Bukva, 1987 (Acari, Demodecidae) in red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in Poland. , 2013, Annals of parasitology.

[10]  A. Berta,et al.  Pinniped taxonomy: review of currently recognized species and subspecies, and evidence used for their description , 2012 .

[11]  L. Ballweber,et al.  New Records of Hair Follicle Mites (Demodecidae) from North American Cervidae , 2010, Journal of wildlife diseases.

[12]  A. Bochkov.  New observations on phylogeny of cheyletoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) , 2008, Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS.

[13]  G. R. Seamons,et al.  Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd edition) , 2006 .

[14]  J. Izdebska.  Demodex spp. (Acari: Demodecidae) in brown rat (Rodentia: Muridae) in Poland. , 2004, Wiadomosci parazytologiczne.

[15]  P. Tuomi,et al.  Description of a hair follicle mite (Acari: Demodecidae) parasitic in the earless seal family Phocidae (Mammalia: Carnivora) from the harbor seal Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758 , 2003 .

[16]  S. Kadulski.  [Echinophthirius horridus (Olfers, 1816) (Anoplura) rare parasite on seals]. , 2001, Wiadomosci parazytologiczne.

[17]  P. Thompson,et al.  Prevalence and intensity of the ectoparasite Echinophthirius horridus on harbour seals (Phoca vitulina): effects of host age and inter-annual variability in host food availability , 1998, Parasitology.

[18]  V. Bukva.  Demodex species (Acari:Demodecidae) parasitizing the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia): redescription of Demodex ratti and description of D. norvegicus sp. n. and D. ratticola sp. n. , 1995, Folia parasitologica.

[19]  C. Desch.  Redescription of Demodex nanus (Acari: Demodicidae) from Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus (Rodentia). , 1987, Journal of medical entomology.

[20]  V. Bukva.  Demodex kutzeri sp. n. (Acari: Demodicidae), an identical parasite of two species of deer, Cervus elaphus and C. nippon pseudaxis. , 1987, Folia parasitologica.

[21]  L. Margolis,et al.  REPORT OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PARASITOLOGISTS) , 1982 .

[22]  D. S. Aubin,et al.  The seal louse, Echinophthirius horridus: an intermediate host of the seal heartworm, Dipetalonema spirocauda (Nematoda) , 1981 .

[23]  M. Dailey,et al.  Demodex zalophi sp. nov. (Acari : Demodicidae) from Zalophus californianus, the California sea lion. , 1980, Acarologia.