Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Demodex melesinus (Acariformes: Demodecidae) — the forgotten European badger parasite, rediscovered after 100 years

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Acta Parasitologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Among 15 demodecid mite species (Acariformes: Demodecidae) recorded from carnivorans Carnivora, 3 species were described from mustelids Mustelidae. They are known only from single records, for which Demodex erminae has been described from the stoat Mustela erminea from Great Britain and New Zealand, D. melesinus from the European badger Meles meles known solely from Great Britain and D. lutrae discovered in the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra from Poland. The current record confirms the existence of D. melesinus, in badger from Poland, after close to one hundred years from its original description, as well as the first detection of the male for this species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bochkov A.V. 2008. New observations on phylogeny of cheyletoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea). Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 312, 54–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Bukva V. 1996. Apodemodex cornutus gen. n. et sp. n. (Acari: De-modecidae): new genus and new species of the hair follicle mite from the Mediterranean water shrew, Neomys anomalus (Insectivora: Soricidae). Folia Parasitologica, 43, 312–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler J.M., Roper T.J. 1996. Ectoparasites and sett use in European badgers. Animal Behaviour, 52, 621–629. DOI: 10.1006/anbe. 1996.0203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox R., Steward P.D., MacDonald D.W. 1999. The ectoparasites of the European badger, Meles meles, and the behavior of the host-specific flea, Paraceras melis. Journal of Insect Behavior, 12, 245–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Do Linh San E. 2007. Ectoparasite categories of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in Western Switzerland. Wildlife Biology in Practice, 3, 52–59. DOI: 10.2461/wbp.2007.3.7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirst S. 1921a. On three new parasitic mites (Leptus, Schongastia, and Demodex). Annals and Magazine of Natural History, 7, 37–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirst S. 1921b. On some new or little-known Acari, mostly parasitic in habit. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 91, 357–378. DOI: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.1921.tb03268.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N. 2004. Demodex spp. (Acari: Demodecidae) in brown rat (Rodentia: Muridae) in Poland. Wiadomosci Parazytologiczne, 50, 333–335

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N. 2005. Demodecid mites (Acari, Actinedida) in carnivorous mammals (Mammalia, Carnivora) in Poland. In: (Eds A. Buczek and Cz. Blaszak) Arthropods. A variety of forms and interactions. Koliber, Lublin, pp. 121–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N. 2010. Demodex spp. (Acari, Demodecidae) and de-modecosis in dogs: characteristics, symptoms, occurrence. Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy, 54, 335–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N., Fryderyk S. 2011. Diversity of three species of the genus Demodex (Acari, Demodecidae) parasitizing dogs in Poland. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 20, 565–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N., Rolbiecki L. 2014a. Demodex lutrae n. sp. (Acari) in European otter Lutra lutra (Carnivora: Mustelidae) with data from other demodecid mites in carnivores. Journal of Parasitology, 100, 784–789. DOI: 10.1645/14-532.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N., Rolbiecki L. 2014b. New species of Demodex (Acari: Demodecidae) with data on parasitism and occurrence of other demodecids of Rattus norvegicus (Rodentia: Muridae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 107, 740–747. DOI: 10.1603/AN13123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N., Rolbiecki L. 2016. A new genus and species of de-modecid mites from the tongue of a house mouse Mus mus-culus: description of adult and immature stages with data on parasitism. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 30, 135–143. DOI: 10.1111/mve.12167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Izdebska J.N., Rolbiecki L. 2018. The status of Demodex cornei: description of the species and developmental stages, and data on demodecid mites in the domestic dog Canis lupus familiaris. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 32, 346–357. DOI: 10.1111/mve.12304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kolodziej-Sobocinska M., Tokarska M., Kowalczyk R. 2014. The first report of sparganosis (Spirometra sp.) in Eurasian badger (Meles meles). Parasitology International, 63, 397–399. DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2013.12.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozina P., Gólcz A., Izdebska J.N. 2014. New data on the prevalence of Trichodectes melis (Phthiraptera, Trichodectidae) on the European badger Meles meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae). Annals of Parasitology, 60, 273–276

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morita T., Ohmi A., Kiwaki A., Ike K., Nagata K. 2018. A new stubby species of demodectic mite (Acari: Demodicidae) from the domestic dog (Canidae). Journal of Medical Entomology, 55, 323–328. DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moskwa B., Gozdźik K., Bienń J., Bogdaszewski M., Cabaj W. 2012. Molecular identification of Trichinella britovi in martens (Martes martes) and badgers (Meles meles); new host records in Poland. Acta Parasitologica, 57, 402–405. DOI: 10.2478/ s11686-012-0054-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller R.S. 2004. Treatment protocols for demodicosis: an evidence-based review. Veterinary Dermatology, 15, 75–89. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2004.00344.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueller R.S., Bensignor E., Ferrer L., Holm B., Lemarie S., Paradis M., Shipstone M.A. 2012. Treatment of demodicosis in dogs: 2011 clinical practice guidelines. Veterinary Dermatology, 23, 86–e21. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2011.01026.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nashat M.A., Luchins K.R., Lepherd M.L., Riedel E.R., Izdebska J.N., Lipman N.S. 2017. Characterization of Demodex mus-culi infestation, associated comorbidities, and topographic distribution in a mouse strain with defective adaptive immunity. Comparative Medicine, 67, 315–329

    PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noli C., Van Der Horst H.H., Willemse T. 1996. Demodicosis inferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Veterinary Quarterly, 18, 28–31. DOI: 10.1080/01652176.1996.9694609

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nutting W.B. 1964. Demodicidae — status and prognostics. Acarologia, 6, 441–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutting W.B. 1976. Hair follicle mites (Demodex spp.) of medical and veterinary concern. Cornell Veterinarian, 66, 214–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Nutting W.B., Kettle P.R., Tenquist J.D., Whitten, L.K. 1975. Hair follicle mites (Demodex spp.) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2, 219–222. DOI: 10.1080/03014223. 1975.9517871

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rolbiecki L., Izdebska J.N. 2014. New data on the parasites of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies, 43, 1–6. DOI: 10.2478/s13545-014-0111-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sivajothi S., Sudhakara Reddy B., Rayulu V.C. 2015. Demodicosis caused by Demodex canis and Demodex cornei in dogs. Journal of Parasitic Diseases, 39, 673–676

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tenquist J.D., Charleston W.A.G. 1981. An annotated checklist of ectoparasites of terrestrial mammals in New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 11, 257–285. DOI: 10.1080/03036758.1981.10421840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tenquist J.D., Charleston W.A.G. 2001. A revision of the annotated checklist of ectoparasites of terrestrial mammals in New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 31, 481–542. DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2001.9517666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson D.E., Reeder D.M. (Eds) 2005. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, 3rd edn. Baltimore, Maryland, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, pp. 2142

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland

    Joanna N. Izdebska, Karolina Cierocka, Leszek Rolbiecki & Paulina Kozina

  2. Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230, Bialowieża, Poland

    Marta Kolodziej-Sobocinska

Authors
  1. Joanna N. Izdebska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karolina Cierocka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leszek Rolbiecki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paulina Kozina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marta Kolodziej-Sobocinska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanna N. Izdebska.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Izdebska, J.N., Cierocka, K., Rolbiecki, L. et al. Demodex melesinus (Acariformes: Demodecidae) — the forgotten European badger parasite, rediscovered after 100 years. Acta Parasit. 63, 665–668 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2018-0078

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2018-0078

Keywords

Search

Navigation