Studies on the Parasite Fauna of Thailand 3. Mites associated with Thai mammals

T ropical Medicine, 22 (1), 13-25, March, 1980 13 Studies on the Parasite Fauna of Thailand 3. Mites associated with Thai mammals Kimito UCHIKAWA Department of Parasitology , Faculty of Medicine , Shinshu University, Matsumoto, 390 Japan and Hiroshi SUZUKI Department of Virology, Institute for Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852 Japan Abstract : Forty five species of mites parasitic or phoretic on Thai small mammals were recorded. Detailed morphology and figures for an anonymous Laelaps, the male of Longolaelaps whartoni Drumond et Baker and both the sexes of the mite identified as Hirstionyssus indosinensis Bregetova et Grohovskaja were presented. INTRODUCTION During the survey of Thai mammals carried out in 1978 and 1979, the junior author collected acari found on all the catches. Parasitic acari have so far been studied extensively in Indochina region, and, in some genera or even in some families, it is rather difficult to get new records in this region. Collection records of any scale that always yield some valuable informations should, however, be properly presented. On this view, all the parastic acari, exclusive of ticks (Ixodides) and trombiculids (Trombidiformes) that will be dealt with in other papers, collected in the survey are recorded below. It is usual to find non-parasitic acari on the fur of mammals. Some species are regular phoretic mites, and some others become associated with mammals quite accidentaly. Both the groups of mites are expected to be indicative to some extent of environmental conditions of ranges of carrier mammals. Informations of these non-parasitic mites as well as nidicolous mites should be compiled hereafter systematically, improving any occasion. Thus, all the non-parasitic mites will be also recorded in this report. Contribution No. 997 from the Institute for Tropical Medicine, Nagasaki University. Recieved for Publication, February 13, 1980 14 HOSTS AND LOCALITIES The mammals that yielded mites comprized 8 species of 4 orders as shown in Table 1. These hosts were caught at Mae Hongson, Nakorn Nayok and The River Kuwai, Thailand, in September to August, 1978, and at Nakorn Nayok and Doi Inthanon, Thailand, in February, 1979. Table 1. Hosts that yielded mites Chiroptera Rousettus leschenaulti Myotis siligorensis Insectivora Anourosorex squamipes Rodentia Eothenomys melanogaster Muspahari Rattus rattus Rattus sabanus Rattus niviventer Rattus flavescens Rattus surifer Menetes berdmorei Primates Tupaia glis MITES RECORDS The direct mite sampling method employed during survey resulted in the collection of a total of 45 species representing 25 genera, inclusive of some undetermined ones, of 19 families as presented in Table 2. Among these mites, the validity of Radfordia (Radfordia) sp. nr. ensifera (Poppe) (Myobiidae) is not confirmed. Parasitic Laelapidae were most abundant on an insectivore and rodents. Haemogamasus suncus Allred new to Thailand was originally described as the parasite of Suncus (Pachyurd) sp. and Soriculus spp. on Hymalayan high land, Nepal (Allred, 1969). The present record on Doi Inthanon suggests a continuous distribution of H. suncus from the northern high land to Hymalaya, associating with various insectivores. The Thai host, Anourosorex squamipes, was also infested with the 2 mites, Androlaelaps (Haemolaelaps) sorcinus (Jameson) and Placomyobia wilsoni Jameson, both of which occur on the same host on the high altitude of Taiwan (Jameson, 1966, 1970). The mites of the genus Longolaelaps are endemic to the Oriental region. The three species of the genus have been described based on the females. In the case of L. whartoni Drummond et Baker, the original description was made on the 8 female specimens taken from Rattus rajah (type host) and R. rattus argentiventer in Malaya(Drummond et Baker, 1960). Then, Domrow et Nadchatram (1963) recorded 162 females from 3 hosts together with 206 females of L. longula Vitzthum from Malaya. Despite of abundant occurrence of L. whartoni females, the partner male has not so far been found out. This is also case of L. longula, though the third species, L. traubi Drummond et Baker, is 15 k now from only a small number, that is 9, of the female. In the present survey, the 2 male and 7 female specimens of L. whartoni were fortunately found on the 2 rodents. The detailed morphology of the first Longolaelaps male will be presented later. The mites of the genus Laelaps were most frequently collected from Muridae, and the subgenus Laelaps predominated over the subgenus Echinolaelaps in number of species and vice versa in number of individuals as shown in Table 2. This indicates that the mode of host preference is difference is different in both the subgenera. With respect to the mites of the subgenus Laelaps, L. (L.) dethrionomydis Lange new to Indochina is slightly deviated morphologically from that described by Russian acarologists in having larger dorsal shield (ca. 0.6mm), stout legs and setae, and adanal setae that are strong and somewhat spiniform and extending to the basal level of the postanal seta. Although further study of both the sexes is necessary, it is thought to be reasonable to relegate the mite to L. (L.) clethrionomydis. An anonymous species taken from Menetes berdmorei was regarded as Laelaps (L.) B in Allred (1970), which was recorded from Rattus sp. in Viet Nam. This mite seems to be identical with Laelaps (L.) sp. nr. thamnomys Taufflieb, 1954, in Hadi et al. (1977) that was taken from M. berdmorei in South Viet Nam. Allred (1970) noted as this "This mite represents an undescribed species". The present authors support Dr. Allred's view. As his description without figure is brief, supplimental morphological accounts will be presented later, expecting an accomplishment of Dr. Allred's work. Of the 4 species of the subgenus Echinolaelaps, L. (£) traubi Domrow was encountered only on the hailand, Doi Inthanon. This mite was originally described on specimens taken on Cameron Highlands, Malaya (Domrow, 1962), and Strandtman and Mitchell (1963) added the records from high altitudes in Viet Nam and Thailand. A pretty large number of the mite of the genus Hirstionyssus* were taken from Rattus sabanus. This mite was tentatively identified as H. indosinensis Bregetova et Grohovskaja despite of some remarkable differences as compared with the original description (Bregetova et Grohovskaja, 1961). Bregetova and Grohovskaja (1961) described H. indochinensis on the specimens found on R. sabanus ssp.?, R. rattus flavipectus, Suncus murinus from North Viet Nam and on Callosciurus macclellandi and C. swinhoei form southern China. They also presented the closely allied species, H. callosciuri Bregetova et Grohovskaja, as the parasite of Callosciurus erythreus subspp. from the same localities in the same paper. The mites of the genus Hirstionyssus are not so rigidly host species specific, but phylogenetically and ecologically different host species are usually associated with different Hirstionyssus. In this respect, the host records presented in the origina] description of H. indochinensis as cited above are rather exceptional. Although the present author were not able to examine the type specimens of H. indochinensis, the Hirstionyssus The synonymy of the geuus Hirstionyssus Fonseca, 1948, with the genus Echinonyssus Hirst, 1925, was recently suggested by Tenorio et Radovsky (1979) 16 Table 2. Mite Records - (1) Sub-order Mesostigmata Family Species Parasitidae Laelaptidae Gen. sp. Hypoaspis (Cosmolaelaps) sp. Haemogamasus suncus Allred Longolaelaps whartoni Drummond et Baker Androlaelaps (Haemolaelaps) sorcinus (Jameson) Laelaps (Laelaps) algericus Hirst Laelaps (Laelaps) clethrionomydis Lange Laelaps (Laelaps) liberiensis Hirst Laelaps (Laelaps) nuttalli Hirst Laelaps (Laelaps) turkestunicus Lange Laelaps (Laelaps) sp. B Allred Laelaps (Laelaps) sp. Laelaps (Echinolaps) aingworthae Strandtmann et Mitchell Laelaps (Echinolaelaps) echidninus Berlese Laelaps (Echinolaelaps) sanguisugus Vitzthum Laelaps (Echinolaelaps) traubi Domrow Macrochelidae Uropodidae Spinturnicidae Macronyssidae Hirstionyssus indosinensis Bregetova et Grohovskaja Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) Gen.sp. Meristaspis lateralis (Kolenati) Ancystropus eonycteris Delfinado et Baker Ancystropus zeleborii Kolenati Ancystropus sp. Steatonyssus sp. nr. afer Radovsky et Ytunker 17 Locality : A-Doi Inthanon, B-Nakorn Nayok ;C-Mae Hongson Number Host Locality and Date 3J) N Anourosorex squamipes A, 1979 à" II à" 22-23 19 A. squamipes A, 1979à"IIà"21 146 £35? 923DN1PN A. squamipes A, 1979à"IIà"21-24 2a 61$ Rattus surifer B, 1978 à"VII.23 69 9 Menetes berdmorei C, 1978 à"VII à"7 129 94DN1PN A. squamipes A, 1979à"IIà"21-23 1 £ Rattus rattus 3 9 9 Eothenomys melanogaster A, 1979 à" II à" 22 2$ $ Muspahari A, 1979à"IIà"20 1PN *. rattws C, 1978 à"VIII à"1 1 $3 9 $ tfattwsfluvescens B, 1978 à"VII à"23 18 M. berdmorei C, 1978-VIII-7 8 5 $ tfattwsfluvescens A, 1979 - ll - 23 35 5 Af. berdmorei C, 1978-VIIà"4 ! $ #am« niriventer A, 1979 - ll - 22 7a a3PN R. surifer B, 1978-VII-23 4$ $69 $ M. berdmorei C, 1978-VIIà"7 10S S10$? R. surifer B, 1979-II-10 26 £35 $ K. rflttus B, 1979-ll-10 Ia9$ 9 U. 5«r(/er A, 1979à"IIà"24 6$ 9 R. rattus B, 1979à"II-10 29 9 M. berdmorei C, 1978-VIII-7 2662$$1DN K- *««> B, 1978-VII-23 499 Rá"ttus B' ^79-H-lO 28 $2? 9 Af. berdmorei B, 1979à"IIà"10 36 68$ 9 *. wiri/fer B> 1979*11-10 3aS1699 R. wifer A, 1979-ll-24 139 $ Rattus niviventer A, 1979 - II - 21-22 89 91DN R. flavescens A, 1979à"II à"23 1$ E. melanogaster A, 1979 - II ' 23 118 S39 § K. 5fl&a»«5 B, 1978-VII-23 29 9 A. sgwaim/HW A, 1979-ll-22-23 1DN £. melanogaster A, 1979 à" II à" 21 186 624$ $21DN Rousettus leschenaulti C, 1978 à" VII à"31 19 R. leschenaulti C, 1978 -VII - 31 23 $2DN #, leschenaulti C, 1978 à"VII-31 !9 £. leschenaulti C, 1978 -VII - 31 1 9 7PN Afyofw siligarensis B , 1978 à" VIII à"4 18 (Continued) mite Records - (2) Sub-order Trombidiformes Locality : A-Doi Inthanon ; B-Nakorn Nayok ; C-Mae Hongson ; D-The River Kuwai Family Species Number Host Locality and Date Cheyletidae Cheyletus eruditus (Schrank) 1 $ M. berdmorei C, 1978 à"VIII - 7 Cheyletiellidae Nihelia quinta Domrow et Baker 59? Tupiaglis Q, 1978à"VIIà"19 Myobiidae Placomyobia wilsoni Jameson 26 62$ $ A. squamipes A, 1979-ll-24 Radfordia (Radfordia} ensifera 1$2$ $ R. rattus C, 1978à"VIII-2 Radfordia: (Radfordia) sp. nr. 1 $ J?. 5a&aw«5 B, 1978 - VII - 23 ensifera (Poppe) Pygmephoridae Pygmephorus sp. nr. fercipatus 1 $ 4. squamipes A, 1979 - II - 23 Willmann Rackta sp. 1$ A. squamipes A, 1979à"II*23 Bakerdania sp. 1 19 A. squamipes A, 1979à"IIà"23 Bakerdania sp. 2 1$ 4. squamipes A, 1979à"IIà"24 (Continued) Mite Records - (3) Sub-order Sarcoptiformes (not enumerated) Locality : A-D0i Inthanon ; B-Nakorn Nayok ; C-Mae Hongson ; D-The River Kuwai Family Specif Host Locality and Date Sarcoptidae Nycteridocoptes asiaticus Fain R. leschenaulti C, 1978 à" VII - 31 Atopomelidae Listrophoroides (Meraquesania) cucullatus R. rattus B 1979 à" XI à"10 (Trouessart) ' u Listrophoridae Afrolistrophorus sp. nr. maculotus rattus Fain R. sabanus B, 1978 à" VII à"23 Afrolistrophorus sp. (nymph) R. rattus B , 1979 à"XI à"10 Afrolistrophorus sp. nr. mediolineatus Fain M. berdmorei C, 1978 à"VII à"4 Sciurochirus tailandiae Fain £. niviventer A, 1979 à" II à" 22 (transfer?) Lynxacarus tupaiae Fain T. #/« B, 1978 à" VII à"23 Acaridae Psylloglyphus vietnamensis Fain et Beaucourn R. rattus B, 1979 à" II à" 10 R. surifer B, 1979-ll-10 M. berdmorei C, 1978à"VIIà"4 A. squamipes A, 1979à"IIà"23 Glycyphagidae Dermacarus sp. nr. novaequineae Pain #. niviventer A, 1979 à" II à"22 Alabidopus bipilifer Fain et Uchikawa 4. squamipes A, 1979 à" II à"23 Tupaiopus thailandicus Fain et Uchkawa £. sabanus B , 1978 à" VII à"23 ?"à" £/M B, 1978à"VIIà"23 .4. squamipes A, 1979à"IIà"23 (transfer?) (Oribatendae Suctobella sp' *à" ^*W C, 1978 à"VIII à"1 19 mite collected in the present survey was identified as H. indochinensis on morphological similarity and host record. A detailed morphology of the prsent mite will be described and figured below. Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) is a common predacious mite phoretic on the flies. It was interesting to find the mite on the insectivore, which is easy to get composed and to become attractant to flies shortly after death. The most extensive study of Spinturnicidae parasitic on Thai bats was made by Dr. N. Wilson in Hill and McNeely (1975). He recorded the four species, inclusive of an anonymous one, of Ancystropus from Rousettus leschenaulti. The present Ancystropus that is close to A. eonycteris Derfinado et Baker and Dr. Wilson's anonymous Ancystropus are possibly conspecific. A Steatonyssus mite was newly found on Myotis siligarensis. The mite was very close to S. afer Radovsky et Yunker, but 4 pairs of minute posterior setae on the spisthosomal shield of the female differ in size in the present mite and 5. afer. The mite is thought to belong to a distinctive taxon, but the description on both the sexes is disirable. Nine species of Trombidiformes were taken. Nihelia quinta Domrow et Baker, which has been recorded from T. glis on Malaya (Domrow and Nadchatram, 1963) in succession to the original description (Domrow and Baker, 1963), seemed to be common on the host, but male is still unknown. Although Smiley (1970) relegated the mite in the genus Criekeron Volgin, further studies of the genus of the mite are necessary to com firm his proposal. Placomyobia wilsoni Jameson was originally described from Taiwan as the parasite of Anourosorex (Jameson, 1970). Both the myobiid genus, Placomyobia, and its host genus, Anourosorex, are monotypic, suggesting a phylogenetic distinctiveness of the shrew-mole. As to a single, damaged female of Radfordia taken from R. sabanus, identification was restrained because of its larger size and slightly different setal nature, though the mite was very close to Radfordia (JR.) ensifera (Poppe). With respect to the 12 mites of the sub-order Sarcoptiformes, only Nycteridocoptes asiaticus Fain and Tupaiopus thailandicus Fain et Uchikawa are picked up. The former mite has been known from the male and male tritonymph (Fain, 1959). Female of this mite is still unknown, though some males and a considerable number of immature stages were taken in the present survey. Tupaiopus thailandicus Fain et Uchikawa was recorded from T. glis and A. squamipes, but the latter host record seemed to be dubious. A single mite was probably mislabelled by the senior author. DETAILED MORPHOLOGY 1. Longolaelaps whartoni Drummond et Baker, I960, male (Fig. 1.) Idiosoma 420-415^ long by 230-225^ wide. Dorsal shield slightly concave laterally, 420-410^ long by 200-200^ wide at narrowest point over coxa IV, striated distinctly and 20 bearing 39 pairs of setae; 17 pairs of elongate and swollen setae on central part and the other marginal setae, but D$, which are conspicuous, being minute and spiniform. About 7 pairs of minute setae on dorsal soft integument. Holoventral shield expanded moderately behind coxae IV, bearing 10 pairs of prominent setae and minute adanal and postanal setae. About 10 pairs of minute setae ventrally on soft integument. Peitreme extending over midpoint of coxa II. Legs as illustrated in Fig. 1-1 and 2 ; leg setae rather short. Deutosternum with 8 rows of 3 teeth. Chelae as figured; fixed chela weak and membranous, probably with very minute pilus dentilis; spermadactyl 50-50^ long; arthrodial filaments prominent. The above description was based on the two specimens in Table 2. 2. Laelaps sp. B Allred, 1970, female (Fig. 2.) Idiosoma 650// long by 430j« wide. Dorsal shield 650jw long by 430^ wide, bearing 39 hairs of short setae ; setae 7*2 and Zs being longest and central setae shortest. About 10 pairs of setae marginally on dorsum off the shield. Sternal shield 95-100/f long by 135-150/* wide at level of stz sti 70-78/* long. Genito-ventral shield weakly expanded Fig. 1. Longolaelaps whartoni Prumond et Baker, 1960, male. 1-dorsum; 2-venter. 21 Fig. 2. Laelaps (Laelaps) sp. B Allred, 1970, female. 1-dorsal shield ; 2-venter. between the second and third setae, vh-vh. Distance between setae gi, first pair of setae on genito-ventral shield, 58-63ju ; vk-vh, forth setae on the shield, 73-80^ Anal shield concave anteriorly, 83-88jU long from anterior margin to base of postanal seta and 103-103^ wide. Metapodal shield elongate. About 10 pairs of setae on ventral integument. Peritreme terminating over anteror one third of coxa I. Legs stout ; coxa I with fine external and thickened internal setae ; anterior setae on coxae II and III thickened ; posterior seta on coxa III spiniform. Five, 6 and 6 thickened setae on tarsi II, III and IV, respectively. Chaelae minute, about 28fi long. The above description was made on a whole mount and 2 dissected specimens, all of which were given in Table 2. 3. Hirstionyssus indochinensis Bregetova et Grohovskaja, 1961 Female (Fig. 3). Idiosoma 480-530// long by 330-380/; wide. Dorsal shield 425-450 long 245-255^ wide, weakly striated marginally and granulated, bering 26 pairs of minute setae. Seventeen pairs of setae marginally on soft integument. Tritosternum with well spinose laciniae. Presternal sculpture weak. Sternal shield 45-50^ long and 110-115/f wide