1. Host specificity is the degree to which a parasite species occurs in association with a host species.



2. The degree to which obligate ectoparasites are host specific has been debated, but effects of sampling contamination were usually not addressed. Data from a controlled mammal–ectoparasite survey were used to assess host specificity of an obligate group of ectoparasites – streblid bat flies.



3. Host–parasite associations were categorised as primary or non-primary. Non-primary host associations were evaluated against primary associations via proportional comparison.



4. Results indicate that host specificity was high, exceeding previous reports. Natural host transfers were rare.



5. Non-primary host associations were almost completely explained by disturbance transfers during sampling of the host or by contamination upon sampling the parasite. These conclusions likely hold for other taxa of obligate parasites.

High host specificity of obligate ectoparasites

Multiple erythematous papules accompanied by severe pruritus were observed in humans bitten by the mites (Acari) Pyemotes tritici (Newport) (Pyemotidae), Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer) (Dermanyssidae), Ornithonyssus bacoti Hirst (Macronyssidae) and Androlaelaps casalis (Berlese) (Laelapidae). Eight case histories are presented and the impact of these species on human health is discussed.

Dermatitis in humans associated with the mites Pyemotes tritici, Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti and Androlaelaps casalis in Israel.

The Mesostigmata (including both Monogynaspida and Trigynaspida) parasitic on. or associated with. Australian vertebrates are reviewed. and keys and illustrations provided to enable separation of all 46 genera and 217 species recognised . The genera Bewsiella Domrow and Ichoronyssus Kolenati are transferred from the Macronyssinae to Laelapinae on the basis of their fully formed chelicerae in the deutonymph and setose peritrematal shields in the adult . Material previously identified as Eulaelaps stabularis (Koch) (Haemogamasinae) is now placed as E . oudemansi Turk . New synonymy: Ptilonyssus pentagonicus Fain & Lukoschus. 1979 (Rhinonyssinae) = P . philemoni Domrow. 1964 . A host-parasite list and bibliography are included.

Acari Mesostigmata parasitic on Australian vertebrates: an annotated checklist, keys and bibliography

Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), commonly called the southern tamandua, is 1 of 2 extant, primarily arboreal anteaters. It is distributed over northern and central South America east of the Andes and uses a diverse array of habitats including Chaco, grasslands, and transitional forests. Its diet is primarily one of social ants and termites. It is listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources due to its wide distribution. Primary threats to T. tetradactyla are fire, habitat loss, highway mortality, and hunting.

https://bioone.org/journals/Mammalian-Species/volume-43/issue-1/875.1/Tamandua-tetradactyla-Pilosa-Myrmecophagidae/10.1644/875.1.pdf

Tamandua tetradactyla (Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae)

Targeting ticks for control of selected hemoparasitic diseases of cattle

The results of an extensive survey of spinturnicid mites of bats from Venezuela are presented in this paper. Approximately 30,000 bats were collected from a wide variety of life zones and localities. A representative sample was searched for ectoparasites. There are 3 genera of the family Spinturnicidae in Venezuela: Cameronieta , Periglischrus , and Spinturnix . Three previously described species of Cameronieta were found in the Venezuelan collection. Of the 7 species of Spinturnix previously described from the New World, 4 are reported from Venezuela. The genus Periglischrus constitutes by far the most significant segment of the Venezuelan collection. It is represented by 20 species. Of these, 15 were previously described and reported from Venezuela, and 5 are described here as new. Previously unknown males and immatures of several species are described. Keys on both generic and specific levels are included. Discussions of distinguishing morphological characters and variability, where pertinent, as well as collection data and discussions of host-parasite relationships are given for each species. Complete illustrations of 7 species are provided.

/pdf/spinturnicid-mites-of-venezuela-acarina-spinturnicidae-4asfs3heok.pdf

Spinturnicid mites of Venezuela (Acarina: Spinturnicidae)

This paper is a systematic revision of the genus Hirstionyssus Fonseca, 1948, of the Nearctic region. On the basis of numerical taxonomic analyses and the distribution of qualitative characters, 25 taxospecies, placed in 6 rather well denned host groups, are formally recognized. Four new taxospecies are described: H. perognathi n. sp., H. blarinae n. sp., H. paraffinis n. sp., and H. neocynomys n. sp. Five previously described taxospecies are relegated to synonymy: H. palustris Allred & Beck, 1966; H. punctatus Allred & Beck, 1966; H. invaginatus Allred & Beck, 1966; H. angustus Allred & Beck, 1966; and H. tarsalis Allred & Beck, 1966. Two subgenera are recognized: Mephitonyssus , new subgenus, to include the single taxospecies of the carnivore host group, H. staffordi Strandtmann & Hunt, 1951; and Hirstionyssus s. str. to include the other 24 taxospecies of the geomyid, heteromyid, insectivore, sciurid, and muroid host groups— H. femuralis Allred, 1957; H. geomydis (Keegan, 1946); H. thomomys Allred & Beck, 1966; H. longichelae Allred & Beck, 1966; H. hilli (Jameson, 1950); H. perognathi n. sp.; H. incomptis (Eads & Hightower, 1952); H. triacanthus (Jameson, 1950); H. blarinae n. sp.; H. talpae Zemskaya, 1955 (= H. arcuatus of authors); H. affinis (Jameson, 1950); H. paraffinis n. sp.; H. occidentalis (Ewing, 1923); H. eulamiae Allred & Beck, 1966; H. cynomys (Radford, 1941); H. utahensis Allred & Beck, 1966; H. latiscutatus (de Meillon & Lavoipierre, 1944) (= H. musculi of authors); H. neocynomys n. sp.; H. torus Allred & Beck, 1966; H. obsoletus Jameson, 1950; H. isabellinus (Oudemans, 1913); H. breviseta Strandtmann & Morlan, 1953; H. neotomae (Eads & Hightower, 1951); and H. bisetosus Allred, 1957.

The subfamily Hirstionyssinae, the genus Hirstionyssus , and the 2 proposed subgenera are reviewed and diagnosed; an identification key to the females of the genus is constructed; and each recognized taxospecies is given a complete taxonomic treatment with synonymy, diagnosis, illustrations, and collection records.

A Systematic Revision of the Genus Hirstionyssus (Agari: Mesostigmata) of the Nearctic Region

This paper clarifies the taxonomic status of Hirstionyssus butantanensis (Fonseca, 1932). H. latiscutatus (de Meillon & Lavoipierre, 1944) is synonymized with H. butantanensis (Fonseca). A complete synonymy, diagnosis, and illustrations are given. Based on specimens from the type collection, descriptions are given of the female, male, and deutonymph.

The taxonomic status of Hirstionyssus butantanensis (Fonseca, 1932) (Acari: Mesostigmata).

A new species of Haemogamasus mites is described from Chubut, Neuquen and Rio Negro Provinces, Argentina. It was collected primarily from rodents of the genus Abrothrix (65 of 77 collections): Abrothrix longipilis (63), Abrothrix olivaceus olivaceus (1) and Abrothrix olivaceus xanthorhinus (1). Additional collections were made from Geoxus valdivianus (5) and Loxdomtomys micropus (5). Possibly incidental or contaminate collections were recorded from Oligoryzomys longicaudatus (1) and Dromiciops gliroides (1). Most collections came from Rio Negro Province (36), with 22 from Neuquen and 19 from Chubut. An identification key is provided to distinguish ♀s of this new species from ♀s of species from the western hemisphere, based on morphological characters.

https://zookeys.pensoft.net/lib/ajax_srv/article_elements_srv.php?action=download_pdf&item_id=2481

Description of a new species of Haemogamasus (Mesostigmata, Laelapidae, Haemogamasinae) from Chubut, Río Negro and Neuquén Provinces, Argentina.

Haemolaelaps fauna include 23 species, 10 of which are new: bellasoma (Ivory Coast), caurinus (Ivory Coast), chaetospinicus (Ghana), crocidura (Ivory Coast), desmodilliscus (Upper Volta), ebsi (Upper Volta), malachela (Ivory Coast), parahirsti (Mauritania), sikapusi (Ghana) and taterakempi (Ghana). Numerical taxonomic and multivariate analyses are presented for taxa clustering and variation analysis. A key to the females is provided.

C. Selby Herrin

Papers

Spinturnicid mites of Venezuela (Acarina: Spinturnicidae)

A Systematic Revision of the Genus Hirstionyssus (Agari: Mesostigmata) of the Nearctic Region

The taxonomic status of Hirstionyssus butantanensis (Fonseca, 1932) (Acari: Mesostigmata).

Description of a new species of Haemogamasus (Mesostigmata, Laelapidae, Haemogamasinae) from Chubut, Río Negro and Neuquén Provinces, Argentina.

Haemolaelaps (acarina: laelapidae) of the northwest ethiopian region