69 Questions
What is the characteristic feature of Mesostigmatid mites in terms of their stigmata?
Above the coxae of the second, third, or fourth pairs of legs
What is the main characteristic of the Macronyssidae family?
They are large, blood-sucking ectoparasites of birds and mammals
Which family of mites is known for being blood-feeding ectoparasites of birds and mammals?
Macronyssidae
What is the characteristic of the genus Dermanyssus?
They are large, blood-feeding ectoparasites of birds and mammals
Where are mites of the subfamily Halarachinae typically found?
In the respiratory tracts of mammals
What is the characteristic feature of the family Entonyssidae?
They are found in the respiratory tracts of reptiles
What is the characteristic of the genus Ornithonyssus?
They are blood-sucking ectoparasites of birds
What is the characteristic feature of Mesostigmatid mites in terms of their shields?
One large shield on the dorsal surface and a series of smaller shields in the midline of the ventral surface
Where can Entonyssus, Entophionyssus, and Mabuyonysus be found?
In the trachea and lungs of snakes
What is the common name of the parasite Androlaelaps?
Poultry litter mite or nest mite
What is the class of aberrant arthropods that resemble annelid worms?
Pentastomida
What is the characteristic shape of pentastomids?
Elongated tongue-like
In what period did the first fossil records of Arachnida originate?
Silurian-early Devonian periods
When did the diversification of Acari probably occur?
200 million years ago in the Cambrian period
What is the name of the genus that is of some veterinary significance?
Linguatula
What is the approximate length of pentastomids?
Up to 2.0 cm
What type of organs did the terrestrial Arachnida acquire during the transition from the marine environment onto land?
Respiratory organs
What does the fossil record suggest about the Acari's colonization of terrestrial environments?
They colonized terrestrial environments as early as the late Silurian
According to the fossil records, what is the earliest known superorder of Acari?
Acariformes
What is the approximate age of the fossil records of the Parasitiformes?
Late Cretaceous (c.100 mya)
What is the approximate age of the diversification of the orders and classes of spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks?
Late Palaeozoic (c.300 mya)
What is the approximate age of the Trigynaspida fossil records?
Upper Triassic (c.220 mya)
All Mesostigmatid mites are ectoparasites of birds and mammals.
False
Macronyssidae and Dermanyssidae are the only two families of veterinary interest in the sub-order Mesostigmata.
False
The Protonymph and adult stages of Macronyssidae mites do not feed.
False
Mites of the subfamily Halarachinae are found in the nasal sinuses and nasal passages of dogs.
True
Entonyssidae mites are found in the respiratory tract of mammals.
False
Raillietia is found in the ears of domestic dogs.
False
Mesostigmatid mites have stigmata below the coxae of the second, third, or fourth pairs of legs.
False
All Dermanyssidae mites are greyish white in color.
False
The Arachnida acquired respiratory organs of the same type at the same time during their transition from the marine environment onto land.
False
The fossil records suggest that the Acari did not colonize terrestrial environments until the early Devonian.
False
All fossil Acari known from the early Devonian belong to the superorder Parasitiformes.
False
The fossil records of the Parasitiformes date back to the early Triassic.
False
The diversification of spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks occurred in the early Paleozoic.
False
The fossil records of the Acari do not show any diversity by the early to mid-Devonian.
False
Pentastomids are typically found in the digestive system of vertebrates.
False
All species of the family Rhinonyssidae are parasites of snakes.
False
The genus Linguatula is of some veterinary significance for dogs and cats.
True
Androlaelaps is a blood-feeding parasite of rodents.
False
Pentastomids have a large mouth and small claws at the anterior end.
False
The oldest fossil record of a mite is from the Cambrian period.
False
The diversification of the Acari probably occurred around 400 million years ago.
False
Pentastomids are up to 1.0 cm long.
False
Mesostigmatid mites have stigmata above the coxae of the first pair of legs.
False
The Macronyssidae and Dermanyssidae are the only families of veterinary interest in the sub-order Mesostigmata.
False
Only the protonymph and adult stages of Macronyssidae mites feed.
True
Mites of the subfamily Halarachinae are found in the nasal sinuses and nasal passages of domestic cattle.
False
Entonyssidae mites are found in the respiratory tract of mammals and reptiles.
False
Pentastomids are found in the digestive system of vertebrates.
False
The genus Linguatula is of veterinary significance for dogs, cats, and foxes.
True
Androlaelaps is a blood-feeding parasite of rodents.
False
Pentastomids have a small mouth and tiny claws at the extremity of the thick anterior end.
True
The oldest fossil record of a mite is from the Cambrian period.
False
The terrestrial Arachnida acquired respiratory organs of the same type at the same time during their transition from the marine environment onto land.
False
The fossil records suggest that the Acari did not colonize terrestrial environments until the early Devonian.
False
All fossil Acari known from the early Devonian belong to the superorder Parasitiformes.
False
The fossil records of the Parasitiformes date back to the early Triassic.
False
The diversification of spiders, scorpions, mites, and ticks occurred in the early Paleozoic.
False
Ticks are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites.
True
Ticks of the family Ixodidae live in close proximity to their hosts.
False
Ticks can cause anemia in their hosts.
True
The neurotoxin present in the saliva of some tick species is responsible for tick-borne encephalitis.
False
African swine fever is a tick-borne viral disease that affects wild suids.
True
Borrelia sp. is a tick-borne bacterial disease.
True
Hepatozoon canis is a tick-borne protozoal disease that affects dogs.
True
Ticks can cause fever, chills, and muscle pain in their hosts.
True
Tick bites can cause an immediate skin rash.
False
Ticks can transmit viral, bacterial, and protozoal diseases to their hosts.
True
Study Notes
Mesostigmata
- A large group of mites, mostly predatory, but some species are ectoparasites of birds and mammals
- Stigmata are located above the coxae of the second, third, or fourth pairs of legs
- Typically large, with one large sclerotized shield on the dorsal surface and a series of smaller shields in the midline of the ventral surface
- Legs are long and positioned anteriorly
Families of Mesostigmata
- Macronyssidae: relatively large, blood-sucking ectoparasites of birds and mammals (e.g. Ornithonyssus, Ophionyssus)
- Dermanyssidae: blood-feeding ectoparasites of birds and mammals (e.g. Dermanyssus)
- Halarachinidae: mites found in mammals' respiratory tracts (e.g. Pneumonyssus)
- Entonyssidae: mites found in the respiratory tract of reptiles (e.g. Entonyssus, Entophionyssus, Mabuyonysus)
- Rhinonyssidae: mites found in birds' nasopharynxes (e.g. Sternosoma)
- Laelapidae: blood-feeding parasites of rodents (e.g. Hirstionyssus, Haemogamasus, Haemolaelaps, Echinolaelaps, Eulaelaps, Laelaps)
Class Pentastomida
- A strange class of aberrant arthropods
- Adults are found in the respiratory passages of vertebrates
- Resemble annelid worms rather than arthropods
- Genus Linguatula is of some veterinary significance (e.g. adult parasites in the nasal passages and sinuses of dogs, cats, and foxes)
Fossil Records of Acari
- First fossil records date back to the late Silurian-early Devonian periods (c.425 mya)
- Oldest mite fossil is from the Devonian (410 mya)
- Fossil records show that the Acari had achieved a certain amount of diversity by the early to mid-Devonian
- Terrestrial Arachnida acquired respiratory organs of different types at different times during the transition from the marine environment onto land
Mesostigmata
- A large group of mites, mostly predatory, but some species are ectoparasites of birds and mammals
- Stigmata are located above the coxae of the second, third, or fourth pairs of legs
- Typically large, with one large sclerotized shield on the dorsal surface and a series of smaller shields in the midline of the ventral surface
- Legs are long and positioned anteriorly
Families of Mesostigmata
- Macronyssidae: relatively large, blood-sucking ectoparasites of birds and mammals (e.g. Ornithonyssus, Ophionyssus)
- Dermanyssidae: blood-feeding ectoparasites of birds and mammals (e.g. Dermanyssus)
- Halarachinidae: mites found in mammals' respiratory tracts (e.g. Pneumonyssus)
- Entonyssidae: mites found in the respiratory tract of reptiles (e.g. Entonyssus, Entophionyssus, Mabuyonysus)
- Rhinonyssidae: mites found in birds' nasopharynxes (e.g. Sternosoma)
- Laelapidae: blood-feeding parasites of rodents (e.g. Hirstionyssus, Haemogamasus, Haemolaelaps, Echinolaelaps, Eulaelaps, Laelaps)
Class Pentastomida
- A strange class of aberrant arthropods
- Adults are found in the respiratory passages of vertebrates
- Resemble annelid worms rather than arthropods
- Genus Linguatula is of some veterinary significance (e.g. adult parasites in the nasal passages and sinuses of dogs, cats, and foxes)
Fossil Records of Acari
- First fossil records date back to the late Silurian-early Devonian periods (c.425 mya)
- Oldest mite fossil is from the Devonian (410 mya)
- Fossil records show that the Acari had achieved a certain amount of diversity by the early to mid-Devonian
- Terrestrial Arachnida acquired respiratory organs of different types at different times during the transition from the marine environment onto land
Mesostigmata
- A large group of mites, mostly predatory, but some species are ectoparasites of birds and mammals
- Stigmata are located above the coxae of the second, third, or fourth pairs of legs
- Typically large, with one large sclerotized shield on the dorsal surface and a series of smaller shields in the midline of the ventral surface
- Legs are long and positioned anteriorly
Families of Mesostigmata
- Macronyssidae: relatively large, blood-sucking ectoparasites of birds and mammals (e.g. Ornithonyssus, Ophionyssus)
- Dermanyssidae: blood-feeding ectoparasites of birds and mammals (e.g. Dermanyssus)
- Halarachinidae: mites found in mammals' respiratory tracts (e.g. Pneumonyssus)
- Entonyssidae: mites found in the respiratory tract of reptiles (e.g. Entonyssus, Entophionyssus, Mabuyonysus)
- Rhinonyssidae: mites found in birds' nasopharynxes (e.g. Sternosoma)
- Laelapidae: blood-feeding parasites of rodents (e.g. Hirstionyssus, Haemogamasus, Haemolaelaps, Echinolaelaps, Eulaelaps, Laelaps)
Class Pentastomida
- A strange class of aberrant arthropods
- Adults are found in the respiratory passages of vertebrates
- Resemble annelid worms rather than arthropods
- Genus Linguatula is of some veterinary significance (e.g. adult parasites in the nasal passages and sinuses of dogs, cats, and foxes)
Fossil Records of Acari
- First fossil records date back to the late Silurian-early Devonian periods (c.425 mya)
- Oldest mite fossil is from the Devonian (410 mya)
- Fossil records show that the Acari had achieved a certain amount of diversity by the early to mid-Devonian
- Terrestrial Arachnida acquired respiratory organs of different types at different times during the transition from the marine environment onto land
Classification and Characteristics of Ticks
- Ticks belong to the class Arachnida and are closely related to mites
- They are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites and vectors of disease
Types of Ticks
- Ixodidae: primarily live outdoors, mate on host, require days to complete engorgement
- Argasidae: live in close proximity to host, mate off host, require minutes to hours to feed and feed repeatedly
Tick-Borne Diseases
Viral Diseases
- Colorado tick fever: affects rodents, transmitted by Dermacentor ticks
- Tick-borne encephalitis: affects humans, cattle, horses, dogs
- African swine fever: affects wild suids, transmitted by Ornithodorus ticks
Rickettsial Diseases
- Rickettsia rickettsii
- Anaplasma sp.
- Ehrlichia sp.
Bacterial Diseases
- Borrelia sp.
- Mycoplasma haemocanis
- Francisella tularensis
Protozoal Diseases
- Hepatozoon canis
- Babesia sp.
- Cytauxzoon felis
Symptoms of Tick Bites
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Itchiness or irritation (not immediate)
- Skin rash
This lecture covers the characteristics and classification of Mesostigmata, a group of mites that are primarily predatory but also include ectoparasites of birds and mammals.
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