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Chigger mites (Acari, Trombiculidae) parasitizing small mammals in the Eastern Hindu Kush and some other Afghan areas

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Abstract

Chigger mites of Afghanistan were studied on the base of collections made in Eastern and Central Hindu Kush, Kabul, and some other localities. Fifteen chigger species parasitizing nine species of Rodentia, two species of Lagomorpha, and one species of Soricomorpha were found, including 13 species which were not previously recorded in Afghanistan. Eco-geographical variability is observed in Shunsennia oudemansi: Individuals of this species from high-mountain localities of Eastern Hindu Kush are characterized by larger values of most morphometric characters than the specimens collected in Kabul. Vertical and horizontal distribution of chiggers and chigger–host relationships in Eastern Hindu Kush is discussed. Comparison of our data with that on chigger fauna in the region of Tirich Mir clearly demonstrates the role of the Eastern Hindu Kush main ridge as a border between different chigger faunas.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. V. Bukva (Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, Czech Republic) for collecting specimens. This research was supported by a grant from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research No. 09-04-00738 (AAS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Public Health, Šrobárova 48, 100 42, Prague 10, Czech Republic

    Milan Daniel

  2. Laboratory of Parasitology, Zoological Institute RAS, Universitetskaya quay 1, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia

    Alexandr A. Stekolnikov

  3. Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

    Masoud Hakimitabar & Alireza Saboori

Authors
  1. Milan Daniel
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  2. Alexandr A. Stekolnikov
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  3. Masoud Hakimitabar
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  4. Alireza Saboori
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Correspondence to Alexandr A. Stekolnikov.

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Daniel, M., Stekolnikov, A.A., Hakimitabar, M. et al. Chigger mites (Acari, Trombiculidae) parasitizing small mammals in the Eastern Hindu Kush and some other Afghan areas. Parasitol Res 107, 1221–1233 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1992-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-010-1992-x

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