Parasitic mites of medical and veterinary importance – is there a common research agenda?

There are an estimated 0.5–1 million mite species on earth. Among the many mites that are known to affect humans and animals, only a subset are parasitic but these can cause significant disease. We aim here to provide an overview of the most recent work in this field in order to identify common biological features of these parasites and to inform common strategies for future research. There is a critical need for diagnostic tools to allow for better surveillance and for drugs tailored specifically to the respective parasites. Multi-‘omics’ approaches represent a logical and timely strategy to identify the appropriate mite molecules. Recent advances in sequencing technology enable us to generate de novo genome sequence data, even from limited DNA resources. Consequently, the field of mite genomics has recently emerged and will now rapidly expand, which is a particular advantage for parasitic mites that cannot be cultured in vitro. Investigations of the microbiota associated with mites will elucidate the link between parasites and pathogens, and define the role of the mite in transmission and pathogenesis. The databases generated will provide the crucial knowledge essential to design novel diagnostic tools, control measures, prophylaxes, drugs and immunotherapies against the mites and associated secondary infections.     

Temperature preferences of the mite, Alaskozetes antarcticus, and the collembolan, Cryptopygus antarcticus from the maritime Antarctic

Abstract. The thermal preferences of Alaskozetes antarcticus (Acari, Cryptostigmata) and Cryptopygus antarcticus (Collembola, Isotomidae) were investigated over 6 h within a temperature gradient (?3 to +13 °C), under 100% relative humidity (RH) conditions. After 10 days of acclimation at ?2 or +11 °C, individual supercooling points (SCP) and thermopreferences were assessed, and compared with animals maintained for 10 days under fluctuating field conditions (?6 to +7 °C). Acclimation at ?2 °C lowered the mean SCP of both A. antarcticus (?24.2 ± 9.1) and C. antarcticus (?14.7 ± 7.7) compared to field samples (?19.0 ± 9.0 and ?10.7 ± 5.2, respectively). Acclimation at +11 °C increased A. antarcticus mean SCP values (?13.0 ± 8.5) relative to field samples, whereas those of C. antarcticus again decreased (?16.7 ± 9.1). Mites acclimated under field conditions or at +11 °C selected temperatures between ?3 and +1 °C. After acclimation at ?2 °C, both species preferred +1 to +5 °C. Cryptopygus antarcticus maintained under field conditions preferred +5 to +9 °C, whereas individuals acclimated at +11 °C selected +9 to +13 °C. For A. antarcticus, thermopreference was not influenced by its cold hardened state. The distribution of field specimens was further assessed within two combined temperature and humidity gradient systems: (i) 0–3 °C/12% RH, 3–6 °C/33% RH, 6–9 °C/75% RH and 9–12 °C/100% RH and (ii) 0–3 °C/100% RH, 3–6 °C/75% RH, 6–9 °C/33% RH and 9–12 °C/12% RH. In gradient (i), C. antarcticus distributed homogeneously, but, in gradient (ii), C. antarcticus preferred 0–3 °C/100% RH. Alaskozetes antarcticus selected temperatures between 0 and +6 °C regardless of RH conditions. Cryptopygus antarcticus appears better able than A. antarcticus to opportunistically utilize developmentally favourable thermal microclimates, when moisture availability is not restricted. The distribution of A. antarcticus appears more influenced by temperature, especially during regular freeze‐thaw transitions, when this species may select low temperature microhabitats to maintain a cold‐hardened state.     

Control of the broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks)) on organic greenhouse sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) with the predatory mite, Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans)

The predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acarina: Phytoseiidae) successfully controlled the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acarina: Tarsonemidae) on two varieties of greenhouse-grown sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). A survey of pre-plant seedlings showed that nurseries were a source of infestation for the broad mite. The predatory mites were released twice (on day 1 and 5, or 15 days later) on each plant, every second plant or every fourth plant. Broad mite populations were evaluated by sampling young leaves from the top of the plant. The effect of the broad mite on plant height, dry mass and yield was evaluated. Additionally, since N. cucumeris is known to control thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), blue sticky traps and flower sampling were used to evaluate changes in thrips populations. All three release rates of N. cucumeris significantly (P<0.05) controlled broad mite populations, but when the predatory mites were released only on every fourth plant, the overall height and yield of the plants were adversely affected by broad mites. Releasing N. cucumeris on each or every second plant was as efficacious in controlling broad mites as sulfur treatments in terms of plant height, dry mass and yield. Plants treated with sulfur, however, had significantly higher thrips populations and fruit damage.     

Effect of the extract and compound from Solanum nigrum Linn on Tetranychus cinnabarinus

The carmine spider mite Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) is a serious pest affecting various glasshouse vegetables, fruits and crops and causes significant damage to crop yields and quality by piercing and sucking foliar tissues. The control of this mite primarily involves the application of synthetic chemical pesticides. In this study, a Solanum nigrum L. extract was evaluated for its potential acaricidal activity against adult female T. cinnabarinus in laboratory conditions, and the S. nigrum extract showed marked efficacy in controlling the carmine spider mite both in vitro and in potted seedlings. Furthermore, the active compound, a phytostanol ester (β‐sitosterol‐3‐O‐heptadeca‐8Z, 11Z‐dienoate), was isolated from the petroleum ether‐soluble fraction of S. nigrum extract via repeated column chromatography and identified based on its physiochemical properties and spectral data. At 7 days after treatment in a potted seedling experiment, the LC₅₀ values of the S. nigrum extract and active compound were found to be 4.70 and 1.85 g/l, respectively. All of these results demonstrated that the S. nigrum extract and its active component exhibit the potential for use as new natural acaricides for controlling carmine spider mites.     

云南省短尾鼩体表螨类感染及相关生态分析

根据2001至2015年对云南省30个县(市)的现场调查,本文对短尾鼩(Anourosorex squamipes)体表螨类(革螨和恙螨)的感染状况和相关生态规律进行了初步分析.常规统计短尾鼩体表螨类的构成比(Cr)、感染率(PM)、平均多度(MA)和感染度(MI).用Jaccard相似性系数(J)比较螨类物种相似度....     

论水螨腺毛形态学与螨类体躯进化(蜱螨亚纲：水螨群)

基于对中国水螨区系120余种的研究和有关文献,本文提出了水螨腺毛分布体位的原始模式;据腺毛腺体及围腺片等结构特征,将水螨腺毛分为四个结构类型：皱喙螨型、盾水螨型、水螨型和腺水螨型;腺毛结构特征表明,其发生与起源和体躯形态进化相关;全面评述了节肢动物和螨类体躯及体节进化的现有理论、分析讨论了关于螨类祖先体躯模式的Grandiean-Coineau氏学说(十六节说)和Bader氏学说(十二节说),由此并结合作者研究提出了螨类(水螨),原始祖先体躯模式的新假说(十八节说)。     

外源茉莉酸及枸杞瘿螨危害诱导的枸杞防御反应

利用植物的诱导抗性防治病虫害越来越受重视, 为寻求枸杞害虫防治的新方法, 探索外源茉莉酸对枸杞的诱导反应及机制, 本研究测定了外源茉莉酸(jasmonic acid, JA)及枸杞瘿螨Aceria pallida Keifer危害对枸杞叶蛋白酶抑制剂(protease inhibitors, PIs)、 超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）、 苯丙氨酸解氨酶（phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, PAL）活性及多糖（polysaccharide）、 木质素（xylogen）含量的变化。结果表明： 外源JA处理或枸杞瘿螨危害均使枸杞叶PIs, SOD和PAL活性及木质素含量显著提高, 却使多糖含量显著降低。胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂（chymotrypsin inhibitors, CI)和胰蛋白酶抑制剂(trypsin inhibitor, TI)在喷洒JA或枸杞瘿螨危害的第5 天增幅最大, 且在JA浓度、 瘿螨危害间差异显著(P<0.05), 其中, 0.1 mmol/L JA处理使CI增加了96%, TI增加了128%, 枸杞瘿螨危害使CI增加了94%, TI增加了122%。枸杞叶多糖含量在JA处理或瘿螨危害后显著降低(P<0.05), 且与JA浓度有关, 浓度越高, 降低越明显。 JA或瘿螨危害使枸杞叶木质素增加的最大值出现在处理后的第5 天, 高浓度JA、 瘿螨危害及低浓度JA分别使其增加了70%, 41%和36%, 三者之间差异显著(P<0.05), 第10 天增加幅度减低。 3种处理同样使SOD和PAL活性显著增加(P<0.05), 第5天时增幅最大, 高浓度JA 处理使枸杞叶SOD活性由对照的70.77 U增加到128.98 U, PAL活性由10.91 U增加到20.59 U, 第10天时呈现下降趋势。这些与抗性有关物质的变化及其变化趋势, 说明外源茉莉酸及枸杞瘿螨均可诱导枸杞产生防御反应, 而且反应的程度与茉莉酸浓度及处理后的时间有关。     

扁颅蝠和褐扁颅蝠体表寄生革螨的宿主选择

该文通过野外调查和室内行为实验,研究了扁颅蝠(Tylonycteris pachypus)和褐扁颅蝠(T.robustula)与其体表寄生革螨(雷氏巨刺螨(Macronyssus radovskyi)及拟雷氏巨刺螨(M.pararadovskyi))之间的关系.在野外自然条件下,雌性扁颅蝠的体表寄生革螨负荷量与宿主健康指数呈正相关(Spearman:rs=0.55,P＜0.01,n=24),而在雄性扁颅蝠以及雌、雄褐扁颅蝠中则无相关性(P＞0.05).室内原宿主感染实验发现,扁颅蝠和褐扁颅蝠体表寄生革螨均明显倾向于选择各自的雄性宿主,扁颅蝠雌、雄性感染率分别为(42±12)％和(58±12)％(t=-3.6,df=31,P＜0.01);褐扁颅蝠雌、雄性感染率分别为(37±11)％和(63±11)％(t=-6.1,df=26,P＜0.001).用扁颅蝠体表寄生革螨(拟雷氏巨刺螨)对扁颅蝠与褐扁颅蝠交叉感染后发现,寄生革螨明显选择其原宿主扁颅蝠,扁颅蝠与褐扁颅蝠感染率分别为(71±13)％和(29±13)％(t=9.1,df=29,P＜0.001).以上结果表明,扁颅蝠和褐扁颅蝠的体表寄生革螨负荷量与宿主身体状态无明显相关性,而对宿主性别表现不同偏好;扁颅蝠的体表寄生革螨对宿主表现明显的专一性.