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The aim of this study was to report the species of haematophagous parasitic mites of Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and analyze the infestation rates regarding to gender, body mass, and total length of the hosts. To do so, each of the 100 house sparrows captured in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was identified by gender, weighed, and measured. The mite collection was carried out after applying an ectoparasite-repelling talc in the body of the birds. Pellonyssus reedi was found in 29 house sparrows with mean intensity of 8.37 mites/host and Ornithonyssus bursa was found in two birds, only one male host showing co-infestation. The prevalence and mean intensity of P. reedi between male and female adults did not show significant difference, nor was there any correlation among species abundance, body mass, and total length of the house sparrows. We report the occurrence of P. reedi and O. bursa parasitizing P. domesticus in the southern of Brazil.

Acarosis in birds may cause irritation, stress, reduction of food intake and, consequently, reduction in egg production and quality. In this sense, the Ornithonyssus sylviarum mite is considered one of the most aggressive mites to bird health due to its permanent behavior. The objective of this work is to determine the presence of Ornithonyssus spp. in three genetic lines of pedigree breeding chickens and roosters on a farm in the state of California, USA, and identify the species of Ornithonyssus spp. present in the three genetic lines studied. A sampling of 103 pedigree chickens and roosters was carried out to determine the presence of Ornithonyssus spp. The samples were collected from the feathers under the cloaca, preserved in 70% alcohol, then rinsed with 10% sodium hydroxide and evaluated, by direct observation through the microscope and stereoscope, in order to visualize and identify their morphological characteristics. The results show the presence of Ornithonyssus spp. in 99.0% (102/103) of the birds, identifying an average of 135, 121 and 30 mites per bird according to lines A, B and C, respectively. The species identified were Ornithonyssus sylviarum, Ornithonyssus bursa and Ornithonyssus bacoti in 89.8%, 1.4% and 0.8% respectively, with 8.1% Ornithonyssus spp. In conclusion, Ornithonyssus spp. was present in the pedigree breeding chickens and roosters in the three genetic lines. Ornithonyssus sylviarum was the predominant species.

The purpose of mounting an immune response is to destroy pathogens, but this response comes at a physiological cost, including the generation of oxidative damage. However, many studies on the effects of immune challenges employ a single high dose of a simulated infection, meaning that the consequences of more mild immune challenges are poorly understood. We tested whether the degree of immunological challenge in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) affects oxidative physiology and body mass, and whether these metrics correlate with parasitic nest mite load. We injected 14 day old nestlings with 0, 0.01, 0.1 or 1 mg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) per kg body mass, then collected a blood sample 24 h later to quantify multiple physiological metrics, including oxidative damage (i.e. d-ROMs), circulating amounts of triglyceride and glycerol, and levels of the acute phase protein haptoglobin. After birds had fledged, we identified and counted parasitic nest mites (Dermanyssus spp. and Ornithonyssus spp.). We found that only nestlings injected with 1 mg LPS kg−1 body mass, which is a common dosage in ecoimmunological studies, lost more body mass than individuals from other treatment groups. However, every dose of LPS resulted in a commensurate increase in oxidative damage. Parasitic mite abundance had no effect on oxidative damage across treatments. The amount of oxidative damage correlated with haptoglobin levels, suggesting compensatory mechanisms to limit self-damage during an immune response. We conclude that while only the highest-intensity immune challenges resulted in costs related to body mass, even low-intensity immune challenges result in detectable increases in oxidative damage.

A faunal study is presented to determine the species of ectoparasites found in the opossum Didelphis virginiana (Kerr) (Marsupialia: Didelphidae). For this, Tomahawk traps were placed in the peridomiciles of a rural town in Yucatán, to capture individuals of this marsupial and proceed to the collection of their ectoparasites. A total of 3,023 arthropods were collected from 145 opossums. The most frequent ectoparasites were the acarines Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) nr. talaje (64.8%) (Argasidae); Ornithonyssus wernecki Fonseca (53.8%) (Macronyssidae) and Didelphilicus serrifer Fain (25.5%) (Atopomelidae); the ticks Amblyomma parvum Aragão (8.3%) and A. mixtum Koch (10.3%) (Ixodidae); and the fleas Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) (20.7%) and Pulex simulans Baker (8.3%) (Pulicidae). It is concluded that the ectoparasite fauna of this marsupial is mainly composed of euryxenous organisms, which have been documented as vectors of diseases caused by rickettsial bacteria. Since D. virginiana is widely adapted to the peridomiciliary environment in the region, this study allows recognizing those that represent a potential risk for the transmission of vector-borne zoonotic diseases.

Parasite populations are never evenly distributed among the hosts they infect. Avian nest ectoparasites, such as mites, are no exception, as their distribution across the landscape is highly aggregated. It remains unclear if this pattern is driven by differences in transmission events alone, or if the environment that parasites inhabit after transmission also plays a role. Here, we experimentally examined the influence of the post-transmission microclimate, nest characteristics, and host condition on ectoparasite population growth in a bird-ectoparasite system. We infested barn swallow (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster) nests with a standardized number of Northern Fowl Mites (Ornithonyssus sylvarium) and analyzed both biotic (nestling mass, wing length, number of other arthropods present in the nest, and brood size) and abiotic (temperature, humidity, nest lining, nest dimensions, and substrate upon which the nest was built) predictors of mite population growth. Our results suggest that mite populations were most successful, in terms of growth, in nests with higher temperatures, lower humidity, few other arthropods, and hosts in good condition. We also found that nests built on wooden substrates support larger populations of mites than those constructed on metal or concrete. These findings lend insight into the factors that drive large-scale patterns of ectoparasite distributions., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Experimental manipulations of nest mites controls for initial transmission. • Tested the role of microclimate and host factors on mite population growth. • Mite populations grow larger in warmer, drier nests with high body condition hosts. • Nests on wooden substrates had more stable microclimate and larger mite populations. • Presence of other arthropods was negatively correlated with mite population growth.

A total of 13 individuals of the rodent Abrocoma bennetti were captured and 354 ectoparasites belonging to 10 different species were collected and analyzed. The most abundant species was the Phthiraptera Monogyropus longus (61.54%), followed by the Siphonaptera Neotyphloceras chilensis (38.46%). In this study Gyropus distinctus (15.38%) is reported as new record for A. bennetti, previously described for Octodon degus, a rodent usually living in sympatry with A. bennetti. For the first time the flea Delostichus smiti, and the mites Ornithonyssus sp. and Androlaelaps fahrenholzi are recorded in this rodent species.

There are diverse relationships between mites and birds or mammals. These mites may play an important role in epizootics and in the perpetuation of some significant diseases. The purpose of this study is to revise the current knowledge of mesostigmatic mites occurring on birds, including their nests and mammals and their substrates, in Iran and to compare the results with other regions of the Palearctic ecozone. This study presents a revised list of 38 species of mesostigmatic mite occuring on birds (17 species) and mammals (24 species) or in their nests/substrates in Iran. Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus sylviarum and Parasitus hyalinus were found on both birds and mammals. The species composition of mites reported in Iran was compared with other regions of the Palearctic ecozone. Parasites, specifically those from genera Dermanyssus, Ornithonyssus and Liponyssoides, may be hazardous to human health. Species from these genera were predominant among the reported mites.

Wild rodents are considered as potential carriers of several zoonotic vector-borne bacteria but their epidemiology is poorly understood in Tunisia. A total of 305 biological samples (100 spleens, 100 livers, 100 kidneys, and 5 pooled ectoparasites (Xenopsylla cheopis, Laelaps echidninus, Ornithonyssus sp., Hoplopleura sp. and eggs of the rat fleas)) were collected from 100 wild rodents from three Tunisian governorates. Molecular screening was performed to reveal infections with main vector-borne bacteria. Captured rodents belonged to three rodent genera and species including Rattus rattus (n = 51, 51%), Meriones shawi (n = 24, 24%) and Mus musculus (n = 25, 25%). Examined rodents were found to be heavily infested by the rat flea X. cheopis (n = 32, 47%) and the rat mite L. echidninus (n = 22, 32.3%). However, the rat mite Ornithonyssus sp. (n = 13, 19.1%) and the rat lice Hoplopleura sp. (n = 1, 1.5%) were rarely identified. Based on 16S rRNA and msp4 genes, infection with Anaplasmataceae bacteria was detected in six specimens of R. rattus and one M. shawi. Pathogenic A. phagocytophilum (n = 1), A. phagocytophilum-like 1 (Anaplasma sp. Japan) (n = 1), and A. ovis (n = 5) were identified. On the basis of ompB, ompA and gltA genes, infection with Rickettsia spp. was identified in three specimens of R. rattus and one of M. shawi. Five Rickettsia species of the spotted fever group, corresponding to R. monacensis, R. helvetica, R. massiliae, R. africae, and R. aeschlimannii, were detected in mixed infections. Bartonella henselae DNA was also found in two R. rattus, based on rpoB partial sequences. All revealed Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Bartonella bacteria were detected in spleen samples. Ehrlichia, Coxiella and Borrelia spp. were not identified in any of the tested samples. In Tunisia, this is the first report indicating infections with Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Bartonella spp. in wild rodents, particularly present alongside domestic livestock and human. This represents a serious risk of potential bacterial transmission. Thus, controlling rodent population in animal herds, residential areas and sensitizing local people to this risk seem absolutely necessary.

No abstract available (letter to the Editor)

Los ectoparásitos representan un grupo muy diverso taxonómicamente, que incluye a las pulgas, piojos, ácaros y garrapatas, entre otros. El objetivo de este trabajo es ampliar el conocimiento sobre la fauna de ectoparásitos asociada a roedores y marsupiales de la provincia de Corrientes. Para este propósito, se tomaron muestras de 2 sitios suburbanos en la ciudad de Corrientes: Santa Ana de los Guácaras y San Patricio. Se examinaron 54 huéspedes mamíferos. Entre los marsupiales, se recolectaron 2 especies: Lutreolina crassicaudata y Didelphis albiventris. Los roedores analizados incluyen 3 especies: Cavia aperea, Oxymycterus rufus y Oligoryzomys sp. El número total de ectoparásitos recolectados fue de 469, que incluyen 5 géneros de ácaros: Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903, Gigantolaelaps Nesbitt, 1951, Laelaps Koch, 1836, Mysolaelaps Fonseca, 1935 y Ornithonyssus Sambon, 1928; 3 especies de garrapatas: Amblyomma ovale, A. dubitatum e Ixodes loricatus; 2 especies de pulgas: Polygenis axius y Polygenis bohlsi, y 3 piojos diferentes: Trimenopon hispidum, Gliricola sp. y Gyropus sp. Estos resultados proporcionan nuevos registros de huéspedes y localidad, así como, nuevas asociaciones parásito-huésped. Taxonomically, ectoparasites represent a very diverse group, which includes: fleas, lice, mites, and ticks, among others. The aim of this work is to extend the knowledge about the ectoparasite fauna associated with rodents and marsupials from Corrientes Province. For this purpose, 2 suburban sites in Corrientes City were sampled: Santa Ana de los Guácaras and San Patricio. Fifty-four mammal hosts were examined. Among the marsupials, 2 species were collected: Lutreolina crassicaudata Desmarest, 1804 and Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840. The analyzed rodents included 3 species: Cavia aperea Erxleber, 1777, Oxymycterus rufus Fischer, 1814 and Oligoryzomys sp. Bangs, 1900. In total, 469 ectoparasites were collected including 5 genera of mites: Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903, Gigantolaelaps Nesbitt, 1951, Laelaps Koch, 1836, Mysolaelaps Fonseca, 1935, and Ornithonyssus Sambon, 1928; 3 species of ticks, Amblyomma ovale Koch, 1844, A. dubitatum Neumann, 1899, and Ixodes loricatus Neumann, 1899; 2 species of fleas: Polygenis axius Jordan & Rothschild, 1923 and Polygenis bohlsi Wagner, 1901, and 3 different lice, Trimenopon hispidum Burmeister, 1838, Gliricola sp. Schrank, 1781, and Gyropus sp. Nitzsch, 1818. These results provide host and locality records and new parasite-host associations. Fil: Benitez Ibalo, Alicia Paola. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina Fil: Aguiar, Leonardo Dionel. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina Fil: Di Benedetto, Ingrid María Desireé. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina Fil: Mangold, Atilio Jose. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela. Agencia de Extension Rural Rafaela.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Milano, Alicia María Francisca. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina Fil: Debárbora, Valeria Natalia. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina

Blood-feeding ectoparasites constitute a growing burden for human and animal health, and animal production worldwide. In particular, mites (Acari: Gamasida) of the genera Dermanyssus (Dermanyssidae) and Ornithonyssus (Macronyssidae) infest birds and cause gamasoidosis in humans. The tropical fowl mite, Ornithonyssus bursa, is commonly found in tropical and subtropical countries but rarely reported in Europe. In this research we characterized the first two cases in Spain of clinical gamasoidosis diagnosed in patients infested with O. bursa, and investigated the IgE, IgM and IgG antibody response to mite proteins and the carbohydrate Galα1-3Galβ1-(3)4GlcNAc-R (α-Gal) involved in the tick-bite associated alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS). The results suggested that O. bursa is establishing across Mediterranean countries, and may increase the risk for gamasoidosis. The immune antibody response to mite proteins was higher for IgM and similar for IgE and IgG antibodies between patients and non-allergic control individuals exposed to mite or tick bites. The anti-α-Gal antibody levels were similar between patients and controls, a result supported by the absence of this carbohydrate in mites. These results suggested that mite bites do not correlate with antibody response to acarine proteins or α-Gal, and are not associated with the AGS., This research was supported by the Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes, JCCM, Spain, project CCM17-PIC-036 (SBPLY/17/180501/000185). JFLB was supported by Doctorado Industrial from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain (contract DI-14-06917) and Sabiotec S.A., Spain. MV was funded by the Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Spain.

Wild birds may be considered a possible source of parasitic mesostigmatid mites for poultry, but only few studies explored this hypothesis. In addition, there is very little information about the parasitic mites present in commercial poultry systems from southern South America. To contribute with data on parasitic mesostigmatid mites at the domestic-wildlife interface, we conducted a study in which samples were systematically collected from laying hens and wild birds (adults and nestlings), for two years at three commercial laying hen farms. The occurrence of mesostigmatid mites were compared among hosts. A proportion of the collected mites were morphologically identified to the species level, finding that host preference varied greatly depending on mite species: laying hens were only parasitized by Ornithonyssus sylviarum, wild bird nestlings were mostly parasitized by Ornithonyssus bursa, and in small proportion, by O. sylviarum, while adult passerines were parasitized by both Ornithonyssus species, and sporadically by Pellonyssus cf. reedi and Dermanyssus cf. triscutatus. In laying hens, there was intra- and inter-annual variability in mite occurrence, but no consistent seasonal pattern, whereas in adult wild birds, mites showed the highest prevalence in spring and the lowest in summer. Not coinciding with this general pattern, the occurrence of O. bursa matched the reproductive activity of wild birds. A phylogenetic analysis based on a fragment of the 16S rRNA gene was carried out for a subsample of the mites collected, showing that the O. sylviarum mites present on adult wild birds and laying hens had the same haplotype (100% identity). Additionally, mites obtained from wild birds morphologically identified as O. bursa presented two distinctive haplotypes (89.8% identity), one phylogenetically related to O. sylviarum and the other to O. monteiroi. These findings show that in central Argentina commercial laying hens are parasitized mainly by O. sylviarum while wild birds are also hosts to other mite species. Adult wild passerines, especially house sparrows, may be a source of O. sylviarum for commercial poultry Fil: Arce, Sofía Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Monje, Lucas Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Antoniazzi, Leandro Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Sosa, Claudia Carina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Fasano, Agustín Alfonso. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina Fil: Quiroga, Martin Anibal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina Fil: Lareschi, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentina Fil: Beldomenico, Pablo Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; Argentina

Las aves silvestres han sido consideradas una posible fuente de ácaros mesostigmátidos en granjas de gallinas ponedoras, aunque pocos estudios se han enfocado en probar esta hipótesis. Adicionalmente, es escaso el conocimiento que se tiene sobre los ácaros parásitos presentes en sistemas comerciales de gallinas ponedoras en el sur de Sudamérica. Durante dos años fueron colectadas muestras de manera sistemática de gallinas ponedoras, aves silvestres adultas y pichones capturados en el ambiente de las granjas. Fueron cuantificados los ácaros del orden Mesostigmata, y una proporción de ellos fue identificada morfológicamente hasta el nivel de especie., Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores

The common blood feeder mites of poultry are from the genera Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus. Their presence are problematic for the producers either through potential direct effects on weight gain, egg production or sperm production in roosters or as nuisance pests on workers. They also cause anaemia in birds and play a vector role for several human and animal diseases. Five poultry farm buildings of Vikarabad area of Rangareddy district were visited. Samples were collected from a variety of sites, including beneath feed troughs, inside cage fittings and fastening clips, under egg conveyer belts and under manure belts. Heavily mite infested feathers were plucked from three to five individual birds and kept in closed plastic covers. Samples were processed and mounted permanently by using DPX and species differentiation was done. Besides this litter materials and soil samples from the farm were also collected. Massive mixed infestations of Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus mites were found. The morphological characters provided here can be considered as a practical tool for species differentiation and as these blood feeder mites were most prevalent and important pests of poultry, public health aspects of these parasites should be considered.

Ornithonyssus bursa es un parásito común en aves domésticas y silvestres de regiones tropicales y subtropicales que puede causar irritación, dermatitis severa y anemia. El estornino pinto (Sturnus vulgaris) es un ave invasora en Argentina. Tanto O. bursa como S. vulgaris tienen altas tasas de reproducción con implicaciones en salud pública. Los objetivos del estudio fueron reportar la presencia de este ácaro parasitando a los estorninos y comprobar la potencial asociación de bacterias a los ácaros. El estudio se realizó en la Estación de Cría de Animales Silvestres (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Los ácaros se obtuvieron de estorninos, se almacenaron en etanol 96% y se prepararon para su identificación al microscopio óptico. Se realizaron estudios moleculares con el fin de examinar la presencia de bacterias. Todos los ácaros se identificaron como O. bursa. Se detectó por primera vez la presencia de Wolbachia sp. asociada con el género Ornithonyssus. En contraste, los resultados fueron negativos para las especies de Rickettsia, Bartonella y Borrelia. Además del daño que producen los estorninos como una especie invasora en el centro de Argentina, se presenta la asociación de estas aves con O. bursa, lo que favorece la dispersión de los ácaros y su colonización hacia otras aves. The tropical fowl mite (Ornithonyssus bursa) is a common parasite of domestic and wild birds in tropical and subtropical regions. This mite can cause irritation, severe dermatitis and anemia. The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is an invasive bird in Argentina. Both O. bursa and S. vulgaris have high reproductive rates with implications for public health. The goals of our study were to report the occurrence of this mite parasitizing the starlings, and test for the presence of bacteria that could be potentially associated with the mites. The study was conducted in Estación de Cría de Animales Silvestres (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Mites were collected from starlings and stored in 96% ethanol, and prepare for their identification under an optic microscope. Molecular studies were conducted in order to examine the presence of bacteria. All mites were identified as O. bursa. We detected for the first time Wolbachia sp., associated with the genus Ornithonyssus. In contrast, mites were negative for species of Rickettsia, Bartonella and Borrelia. In addition to the damage that the starlings produce as an invasive species in central Argentina, herein we report the association of these birds with O. bursa, favoring the dispersal of the mites and their colonization to other birds. Fil: Lareschi, Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores; Argentina Fil: Cicuttin, Gabriel L. Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur; Argentina Fil: de Salvo, María Nazarena. Instituto de Zoonosis Luis Pasteur; Argentina Fil: Ibañez, Lucía Mariel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Montalti, Diego. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst) Type host: unknown. Deposition, host records, and locality: HWML 101659, M. ochrogaster /Station Grounds 2012; HWML 101665 and 101666, M. ochrogaster /Station Grounds 2012; HWML 101668, M. ochrogaster / Station Grounds 2012; HWML 101673, Pm. maniculatus /Station Grounds 2012; HWML 91988, Pm. leucopus /Grama Grass 2012; HWML 101675, C. hispidus /Grama Grass 2012; HWML 101801, Pm. maniculatus /Breen’s Flyway 2013; HWML 101809, Z. hudsonius /Breen’s Flyway 2013; HWML 101815, M. ochrogaster /Station Grounds 2013; HWML 101818, R. megalotis /Breen’s Flyway 2013; HWML 101820 and 101821, R. megalotis /Breen’s Flyway 2013. Remarks: Ornithonyssus bacoti is primarily an ectoparasite of introduced rats (Rattus), and their nests (Radovsky 2010). It is unclear about whether this is truly an ectoparasitic mite that is capable of infesting a wide range of native small mammals, or a complex of morphologically similar species with host specific habits. However, the present belief is that O. bacoti commonly abandons its primary host to infest man and his domestic and/or laboratory animals (Cole et al. 2005). It is a blood-feeder and its bite can cause skin dermatitis, with the potential for transmission of zoonoses to man and his domestic animals (Easterbrook et al. 2008). For this reason, it is important to note its strong association with domestic Rattus. In discussing the broad host distribution of O. bacoti, Radovsky (2010) notes the probability that it has spread “from post-Columbian human transport of host animals.”, Published as part of Howell, Lindsey, Jelden, Katelyn, Rácz, Elizabeth, Gardner, Scott L. & Gettinger, Donald, 2016, Arthropods infesting small mammals (Insectivora and Rodentia) near Cedar Point Biological Station in southwestern Nebraska, pp. 1-16 in Insecta Mundi 2016 (478) on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.5170591, {"references":["Radovsky, F. J. 2010. Revision of genera of the parasitic mite family Macronyssidae (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssoidea) of the world. Indira Publishing House; Bhopal, India. 170 p.","Cole, J. S., M. Sabol-Jones, B. Karolewski, and T. Byford. 2005. Ornithonyssus bacoti infestation and elimination from a mouse colony. Contemporary Topics in Lab Animal Science 44: 27 - 30.","Easterbrook, J., J. B. Kaplan, G. E. Glass, J. Watson, and S. L. Klein. 2008. A survey of rodentborne pathogens carried by wild-caught Norway rats: a potential threat to laboratory rodent colonies. Lab Animal 42: 92 - 98."]}

In 1993–1995 and 2009–2011, during investigation of reproduction biology of hoopoe, 63 nests of this species were collected after fledging of the chicks in Slovakia and Austria and their arthropod fauna was analyzed. Altogether 5,481 individuals and 34 species of mesostigmatic mites were found in 82.5% of the nests examined. The nidicolous mite Androlaelaps casalis was most abundant and frequent, representing 91.7% of all individuals. The richest in species were saprophilous mites (64.7% of all recorded species), while ectoparasites of the genera Dermanyssus and Ornithonyssus represented only 0.4% of all mites. Only 8 beetle species represented by 65 individuals were found in 18 nests. The dominant trophical group were carnivores (mainly nidicolous Gnathoncus buyssoni) with almost identical representation in (86.2%), followed by a similar representation of necrophags (10.8%). Unlike nests of other birds, the typical nidicolous species Haploglossa puncticollis and the fungivors were absent due to the dry character of studied countryside and placement of the nests in boxes situated in vineyard cottages. Only one species of fleas, Ceratophyllus gallinae — parasitizing first of all in the passeriform birds and being particularly abundant in the cavity nesting birds was recorded in hoopoe nests.

Ornithonyssus hypertrichus n. sp. is described from four localities over a large area of the western nearctic region. Species characteristics include a high degree of hypertrichy on the opisthonotal portion of the female dorsal shield and the unarmed cuticule of the protonymph and adults, thus far unique within the genus. All specimens were collected from species of the cricetine rodent genus Peromyscus. A revised diagnosis is given for the genus Ornithonyssus. Keys are given to adult females, adult males, and protonymphs of the 6 species recognized as belonging to the genus Ornithonyssus in the nearctic region.

As one of ecological surveys of alien avian species in Japan, internal and external parasites of 4 individuals of Hwamei Garrulax canorus and 4 individuals of Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea collected in Kanagawa, Tokyo, and Fukuoka Prefs., Japan during from July 1999to November 2001, were investigated. Ornithoica bistativa, Ornithomya avicularia cf. aobatoensis, Haemaphysalis flava and Centrorhynchus turdi were obtained from Hwamei, and Ornithonyssus sylvialum and Anonchotaenia sp, were obtained from the Leiothrixes, respectively. All of these external parasites and the acanthocephalan species are newly recorded from these two avian species in Japan.

Ornithonyssus pipistrelli (Oudemans, 1904) Liponyssus musculi.— Oudemans, 1902: 17. Misidentification. Liponyssus pipistrelli Oudemans, 1904: 111. New name for Liponyssus musculi (C. L. Koch, 1836) sensu Oudemans (1902). Ornithonyssus pavlovskii Lange, 1959: 484. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Ornithonyssus pavlovskii.— Zemskaya, 1966: 50. Ornithonyssus pipistrelli.— Evans & Till, 1966: 326; Micherdziński, 1980: 104. Liponyssus pipistrelli.— Radovsky, 1967: 209. Cryptonyssus pipistrelli.— Radovsky, 1969: 462; 2010: 93. Occurrence and habitat. Although Ornithonyssus pipistrelli has been widely reported from a variety of vespertilionid bats (Stanyukovich 1997; Baker & Craven 2003), no Slovak specimens were found in association with these hosts (see host distribution). It has been collected at altitudes between 113 and 760 m a.s.l. Host distribution. Bird nests: Columba livia f. domestica (Fenďa & Kicková 2009), Emberiza citrinella, Nannus troglodytes, Parus sp., Passer montanus (Krumpál et al. 2001, Švaňa et al. 2006, Fenďa et al. 2011), Sitta europaea (Fenďa & Mašán 2003), Turdus sp. Combined nests: Cyanistes caeruleus and Muscardinus avellanarius, Parus sp. and Apodemus flavicollis. Mammal nests: Canis familiaris, Glis glis (Mašán & Krištofík 1996), Micromys minutus, Muscardinus avellanarius. New data. Branisko Mts.: 9 ♀♀, 21 June 1989, Bijacovce Village, Branisko Mountain Pass, Muscardinus avellanarius. Košická Kotlina Basin: 44 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 1 N, 22 October 1987, Moldava Nad Bodvou Village, Paňovský Les Forest, Cyanistes caeruleus + Muscardinus avellanarius; 3 ♀♀, 22 October 1987, Moldava Nad Bodvou Village, Paňovský Les Forest, Parus sp. + Apodemus flavicollis; 1 ♀, 12 NN, 22 October 1987, Moldava Nad Bodvou Village, Paňovský les Forest, Muscardinus avellanarius. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 1 N, 10 February 1986, Bratislava Capital, Vajnorská Dolina Valley, Turdus sp.; 1 ♀, 1 N, 28 July 1992, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Nannus troglodytes. Podunajská Rovina Lowland: 1 N, 17 May 1987, Sap Village, Erced Forest, Emberiza citrinella; 1 ♀, 25 July 1992, Svätý Jur Village, Šúr Nature Reserve, Micromys minutus. Veľká Fatra Mts.: 2 ♀♀, 1 N, 24 May 1985, Stankovany Village, Aves sp.; 2 NN, 22 June 1989, Stankovany Village, Parus sp.; 1 N, 22 June 1989, Stankovany Village, Canis familiaris., Published as part of Mašán, Peter, Fenďa, Peter, Krištofík, Ján & Halliday, Bruce, 2014, A review of the ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Dermanyssoidea) associated with birds and their nests in Slovakia, with notes on identification of some species, pp. 77-100 in Zootaxa 3893 (1) on pages 85-86, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3893.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/225755, {"references":["Oudemans, A. C. (1904) Notes on Acari. Eleventh series. (Classification, Parasitidae, Ixodidae, Thrombidiidae, Labidostomidae, Acaridae). Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 46, 93 - 134 + plates 11 - 13.","Oudemans, A. C. (1902) New list of Dutch Acari. Second part. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, 45, 1 - 52 + plates 1 - 6.","Lange, A. B. (1959) A new species of Gamasoidea mites, Ornithonyssus pavlovskii sp. n. (Dermanyssidae) from Muscardinus avellanarius L. from the Southern Carpathian Mountains. Zoologichesky Zhurnal, 38, 483 - 485. [in Russian]","Micherdzinski, W. (1980) Eine taxonomische Analyse der Familie Macronyssidae Oudemans, 1936 January Subfamilie Ornithonyssinae Lange, 1958 (Acarina, Mesostigmata). Polska akademia nauk, Panstwowe wydawnictwo naukowe, Warszawa-Krakow, 264 pp.","Zemskaya, A. A. (1966) A species of Gamasid mites, Ornithonyssus pavlovskii Lange, 1959, new for the USSR fauna, and the diagnostics of the mites of the subfamily Ornithonyssinae. Zoologichesky Zhurnal, 45, 50 - 60. [in Russian]","Evans, G. O. & Till, W. M. (1966) Studies on the British Dermanyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata). Part 2. Classification. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology, 14, 107 - 370.","Radovsky, F. J. (1967) The Macronyssidae and Laelapidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata) parasitic on bats. University of California Publications in Entomology, 46, 1 - 288.","Radovsky, F. J. (1969) Adaptive radiation in the parasitic Mesostigmata. Acarologia, 11, 450 - 483.","Radovsky, F. J. (2010) Revision of Genera of the Parasitic Mite Family Macronyssidae (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssoidea) of the World. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, Michigan, 170 pp.","Stanyukovich, M. K. (1997) Keys to the gamasid mites (Acari, Parasitiformes, Mesostigmata, Macronyssoidea et Laelaptoidea) parasitizing bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) from Russia and adjacent countries. Rudolstadter Naturhistorische Schriften, 7, 13 - 46.","Baker, A. S. & Craven, J. C. (2003) Checklist of the mites (Arachnida: Acari) associated with bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in the British Isles. Systematic & Applied Acarology Special Publications, 14, 1 - 20. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.11158 / saasp. 14.1.1","Fenda, P. & Kickova, G. (2009) Mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) in the nests of feral pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) in Slovakia. Folia Faunistica Slovaca, 14, 31 - 35.","Krumpal, M., Cyprich, D., Fenda, P. & Pinowski, J. (2001) Invertebrate fauna in nests of the house sparrow Passer domesticus and the tree sparrow Passer montanus in central Poland. International Studies on Sparrows, 27 - 28, 35 - 58.","Svana, M., Fenda, P. & Orszaghova, Z. (2006) Roztoce (Acarina, Mesostigmata) v hniezdach vtakov JZ Slovenska. Folia Faunistica Slovaca, 11, 39 - 42. [in Slovak]","Fenda, P., Kucman, P., Bacikova, S., Orszaghova, Z., Puchala, P., Sobekova, K., Janoskova, V. & Meliskova, M. (2011) Roztoce (Acari, Mesostigmata) v hniezdach vrabca polneho (Passer montanus) v PR Sur (JZ Slovensko). Folia Faunistica Slovaca, 16, 37 - 44. [in Slovak]","Fenda, P. & Masan, P. (2003) Roztoce, Acari (Parasitiformes, ex. Uropodina). In: Masan, P. & Svaton, J. (Eds) Pavukovce Narodneho parku Poloniny, Arachnids of the Poloniny National Park (Arachnida: Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones, Opiliones, Acari - Parasitiformes). Statna ochrana prirody SR Banska Bystrica a Sprava Narodneho parku Poloniny, Snina, pp. 143 - 205. [in Slovak]","Kristofik, J. & Masan, P. (1996) Population structure changes of Dermanyssus hirundinis and Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acarina, Mesostigmata) in the penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus) nests during the breeding period. Biologia (Bratislava), 51, 519 - 529."]}

Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877) Dermanyssus sylviarum Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877: 124. Liponyssus americanus Banks, 1905: 136. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Liponyssus canadensis Banks, 1909: 134. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Liponyssus pacificus Ewing, 1923: 19. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Bdellonyssus ondatrae Willmann, 1952: 410. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Ornithonyssus banksi Strandtmann & Wharton, 1958: 85. Synonymy by Whitaker & Wilson (1974). Ornithonyssus sylviarum.— Evans & Till, 1966: 318; Micherdziński, 1980: 115. Ornithonyssus sylviarum utrechtensis Micherdziński, 1980: 318. Synonymy by Radovsky & Estébanes-Gonzáles (2001). Occurrence and habitat. This cold tolerant species is distributed mainly in the north temperate zone, and in Slovakia it is the commonest dermanyssoid associate of birds. It is very frequently and abundantly found in many bird taxa, including species that build various types of nests and occur in diverse habitats. It is very widely distributed in Slovakia, ranging from lowlands to the alpine zone of mountains (2,120 m a.s.l.). Ornithonyssus sylviarum is reported here from 71 identified hosts representing 14 orders of Aves (as listed below). It does not seem to be host-specific for any of the bird species or their higher taxa. It shows only a certain degree of positive habitat preference at the level of an ecological guild associated with riparian biotopes, due to its apparent affinity for the nests of the passeriform bird communities nesting in sites with littoral reed vegetation and locally high air humidity (e.g., Acrocephalus arundinaceus, Emberiza schoeniclus, Notiocichla spp., and Panurus biarmicus). It is collected also in a variety of microhabitats not directly associated with the bodies and nests of birds and mammals, e.g., hygrophilous vegetation, moss, organic detritus of herbs, soil, litter, and substrates taken from a cave environment. Host distribution. Bird nests: Accipiter gentilis, Acrocephalus arundinaceus (Krištofík et al. 2001, Fenďa & Schniererová 2004), Acrocephalus arundinaceus with Cuculus canorus, Aegithalos caudatus, Alauda arvensis, Alcedo atthis, Anas platyrhynchos (Fenďa & Schniererová 2005), Anthus pratensis, Anthus spinoletta, Anthus trivialis, Aquila chrysaetos, Aythya ferina, Bubo bubo, Buteo buteo, Carduelis carduelis, Certhia sp., Chloris chloris (Ambros et al. 1992), Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Ciconia ciconia, Circus aeruginosus, Circus pygargus, Corvus frugilegus, Cygnus olor, Delichon urbicum, Dendrocopos major, Emberiza schoeniclus, Falco cherrug, Falco tinnunculus, Fringilla coelebs, Fulica atra, Garrulus glandarius (Mrciak & Rosický 1956: as Dermanyssus sylviarum), Glaucidium passerinum, Himantopus himantopus, Hippolais icterina (Ambros et al. 1992), Ictinaetus pomarinus (Krištofík et al. 2009), Ixobrychus minutus (Fenďa & Schniererová 2005), Lanius collurio (Ambros et al. 1992, Krištofík et al. 2002), Lanius minor (Krištofík et al. 2002), Luscinia megarhynchos, Merops apiaster (Krištofík et al. 1996, Fenďa 2008), Milvus migrans, Milvus milvus, Motacilla alba (Ambros et al. 1992), Motacilla cinerea, Motacilla cinereocaphilla, Motacilla feldegg, Motacilla flava, Muscicapa striata, Nannus troglodytes, Notiocichla palustris (Krištofík et al. 2005), Notiocichla scirpacea (Fenďa & Schniererová 2004, 2005), Oriolus oriolus, Panurus biarmicus (Krištofík et al. 2007), Parus major, Parus sp. (Fenďa & Mašán 2003), Passer montanus (Krumpál et al. 2001, Švaňa et al. 2006, Fenďa et al. 2011), Phoenicurus ochruros, Phylloscopus collybita, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Pica pica, Podiceps cristatus, Prunella modularis, Remiz pendulinus (Ambros et al. 1992, Krištofík et al. 1993, Krištofík & Mašán 1996, Mašán 1997), Riparia riparia (Mašán & Krištofík 1993, Fenďa 2008), Serinus serinus, Sitta europaea (Fenďa & Mašán 2003), Sylvia atricapilla, Sylvia nisoria, Sylvia sp., Turdus merula, Turdus philomelos (Micherdziński 1980), Turdus pilaris, Upupa epops (Krištofík et al. 2013). Mammals: Apodemus flavicollis (Mrciak 1963), Glis glis (Mašán & Krištofík 1996), Mus musculus (Mrciak 1963). Other findings: leaves of Phragmites australis (Fenďa & Schniererová 2004, 2005), soil (Fenďa & Mašán 2003, Fenďa & Ciceková 2005), litter, moss, cave habitat. New data. Borská Nížina Lowland: 1 ♀, 15 May 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Aegithalos caudatus; 1 ♀, 10 June 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Certhia sp.; 223 ♀♀, 1 N, 27 June 1991, Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds, Serinus serinus; 20 ♀♀, 8 July 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Sylvia atricapilla; 230 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 10 NN, 8 July 1991, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Turdus merula; 3 ♀♀, 16 August 1991, Malé Leváre Village (floodplain forest), Milvus migrans; 1 ♀, 1 N, 13 May 1992, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Accipiter gentilis; 1 ♀, 4 June 1992, Malé Leváre Village (canal), Cygnus olor; 23 ♀♀, 5 August 1992, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (meadow), Anthus trivialis; 4,880 ♀♀, 341 ♂♂, 989 NN, 7 June 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Motacilla flava; 1 ♀, 9 June 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Turdus merula; 22 ♀♀, 17 June 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Motacilla feldegg; 95 ♀♀, 3 NN, 26 July 1993, Jakubov Village, Jakubovské Rybníky Fishponds, Ixobrychus minutus; 6 ♀♀, 2 August 1993, Bratislava Capital, Devínske Jazero Settlement, Falco tinnunculus; 2 ♀♀, 12 August 1993, Moravský Svätý Ján Village (forest), Buteo buteo; 1 ♀, 28 June 1994, Vysoká Pri Morave Village (floodplain forest), Phylloscopus sibilatrix; 1,152 ♀♀, 13 ♂♂, 28 NN, 18 July 1991. Kysucké Beskydy Mts.: 1 ♀, 4 June 1987, Oščadnica Village, Parus major; 1 ♀, 1 July 1997, Nová Bystrica Village, Chmúra Valley (moss). Malá Fatra Mts.: 1 ♀, 21 August 1992, Aquila chrysaetos; 56 ♀♀, 1 N, 15 June 1995, Párnica Village, Osnica Mt., Anthus spinoletta; 4 ♀♀, 23 June 1995, Terchová Village, Stoh Mt., Anthus pratensis. Malé Karpaty Mts.: 96 ♀♀, 30 August 1990, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Alcedo atthis; 102 ♀♀, 24 June 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Prunella modularis; 24 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Falco cherrug; 21 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Milvus milvus; 7 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Motacilla cinerea; 4 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Phoenicurus ochruros; 6 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Bratislava Capital, Železná Studnička Forest, Nannus troglodytes. Oravská Vrchovina Highland: 3 ♀♀, 21 July 1989, Nižná Na Orave Village, Turdus merula. Podunajská Rovina Lowland: 2 ♀♀, 5 April 1989, Pataš Village, Corvus frugilegus; 3 ♀♀, 4 July 1989, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Muscicapa striata; 864 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 15 NN, 23 July 1989, Baka Village (floodplain forest), Hippolais icterina; 11 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 3 August 1989, Bodíky Village, Ciconia ciconia; 127 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 5 NN, 6 August 1990, Čierna Voda Village, Luscinia megarhynchos; 2,818 ♀♀, 120 ♂♂, 1,238 NN, 17 August 1990, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Carduelis carduelis; 37 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 4 September 1990, Komárno Town, Apáli Nature Reserve, Dendrocopos major; 1 ♀, 24 May 1991, Komárno Town, Apáli Nature Reserve, Phylloscopus collybita; 29 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Aythya ferina; 286 ♀♀, 70 ♂♂, 122 NN, 25 June 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Fulica atra; 68 ♀♀, 25 June 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Podiceps cristatus; 33 ♀♀, 3 NN, 3 July 1991, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Chloris chloris; 6,413 ♀♀, 882 ♂♂, 2,580 NN, 3 July 1991, Dobrohošť Village (floodplain forest), Turdus philomelos; 6 ♀♀, 12 July 1991, Kľúčovec Village (floodplain forest), Fringilla coelebs; 14 ♀♀, 23 July 1991, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Chroicocephalus ridibundus; 148 ♀♀, 2 NN, 14 August 1991, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Acrocephalus arundinaceus + Cuculus canorus; 1 ♀, 10 September 1991, Veľké Blahovo Village, Veľkoblahovské Rybníky Fishponds, Circus aeruginosus; 1 ♀, 23 June 1992, Vojka Nad Dunajom Village (canal), Himantopus himantopus; 2 ♀♀, 15 July 1993, Lehnice Village (windbreak), Turdus merula; 3 ♀♀, 27 July 1993, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Oriolus oriolus; 6 ♀♀, 14 September 1993, Gabčíkovo Village, Delichon urbicum; 1 ♀, 25 June 1994, Bratislava Capital, Ostrov Kopáč Nature Reserve, Sylvia nisoria; 4 ♀♀, 3 July 1994, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Motacilla alba; 2 ♀♀, 25 November 1994, Dobrohošť Village, Dunajské Kriviny (floodplain forest), Glis glis; 2,239 ♀♀, 184 ♂♂, 560 NN, 30 May 1995, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Emberiza schoeniclus; 29 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, 2 June 1995, Bratislava Capital, Ostrov Kopáč Nature Reserve, Alauda arvensis; 4 ♀♀, 25 June 1995, Dolný Štál Village, Hroboňovské Rybníky Fishponds, Pica pica; 2 ♀♀, 23 June 1997, Číčov Village, Číčovské Mŕtve Rameno Nature Reserve, Ixobrychus minutus; 4 ♀♀, 29 June 1999, Šamorín Village (windbreak), Falco cherrug. Považské Podolie Basin: 1 ♀, 13 August 1989, Dubnica Nad Váhom Town, Parus major. Považský Inovec Mts.: 44 ♀♀, 7 July 1991, Hubina Village, Bubo bubo. Slovenský Raj Mts.: 1 ♀, 13 August 1999, Stratená Village, Koniarova Jaskyňa Cave (bait); 4 ♀♀, 11 July 2012, Stratená Village, Duča Cave (soil and litter). Starohorské Vrchy Mts.: 2 ♀♀, 20 August 1990, Staré Hory Village, Sylvia sp. Strážovské Vrchy Mts.: 1 ♀, 5 July 1999, Malinová Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus; 4 ♀♀, 19 July 1999, Chvojnica Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus. Turčianska Kotlina Basin: 1 ♀, 11 June 2000, Diviaky Village, Motacilla cinereocaphilla. Veľká Fatra Mts.: 2 ♀♀, 26 June 1993, Stankovany Village, Podšíp Settlement, Sitta europaea. Veporské Vrchy Mts.: 91 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂, 2 NN, 6 July 1993, Hriňová Village, Pivnička Settlement, Turdus pilaris. Vihorlatské Vrchy Mts.: 8 ♀♀, 17 July 1999, Ptičie Village, Ictinaetus pomarinus. Východoslovenská Rovina Lowland: 28 ♀♀, 4 August 1993, Blatné Revištia Village, Circus pygargus. Vysoké Tatry Mts.: 1 ♀, 13 July 2005, Tatranská Javorina Village, Zadná Javorová Dolina Valley (organic plant detritus under stone). Zvolenská Kotlina Basin: 49 ♀♀, 12 July 1993, Kováčová Village (forest), Glaucidium passerinum., Published as part of Mašán, Peter, Fenďa, Peter, Krištofík, Ján & Halliday, Bruce, 2014, A review of the ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Dermanyssoidea) associated with birds and their nests in Slovakia, with notes on identification of some species, pp. 77-100 in Zootaxa 3893 (1) on pages 86-87, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3893.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/225755, {"references":["Canestrini, G. & Fanzago, F. (1877) Intorno agli Acari Italiani. Atti del Reale Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, Series 5, 4, 69 - 208 + plates II - VII.","Banks, N. (1905) Descriptions of some new mites. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 7, 133 - 142.","Strandtmann, R. W. & Wharton, G. W. (1958) A Manual of Mesostigmatid Mites Parasitic on Vertebrates. Institute of Acarology, Contribution No 4, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 330 pp., 69 pls.","Banks, N. (1909) New Canadian mites (Arachnoidea, Acarina). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 11, 133 - 143.","Ewing, H. E. (1923) The dermanyssid mites of North America. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 62 (13), 1 - 26, 2 pls. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00963801.62 - 2459.1","Willmann, C. (1952) Parasitische Milben an Kleinsaugern. Zeitschrift fur Parasitenkunde, 15, 392 - 428.","Micherdzinski, W. (1980) Eine taxonomische Analyse der Familie Macronyssidae Oudemans, 1936 January Subfamilie Ornithonyssinae Lange, 1958 (Acarina, Mesostigmata). Polska akademia nauk, Panstwowe wydawnictwo naukowe, Warszawa-Krakow, 264 pp.","Whitaker, J. O. & Wilson, N. (1974) Host and distribution lists of mites (Acari), parasitic and phoretic, in the hair of wild mammals of North America, north of Mexico. American Midland Naturalist, 91, 1 - 67. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.2307 / 2424511","Evans, G. O. & Till, W. M. (1966) Studies on the British Dermanyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata). Part 2. Classification. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology, 14, 107 - 370.","Radovsky, F. J. & Estebanes-Gonzalez, M. L. (2001) Macronyssidae in wild bird nests in Mexico, including new synonymies, and the genus Pellonyssus in the New World (Acari: Mesostigmata). Acta Zoologica Mexicana, Nueva Serie, 82, 19 - 28.","Kristofik, J., Masan, P. & Sustek, Z. (2001) Mites (Acari), beetles (Coleoptera) and fleas (Siphonaptera) in the nests of great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and reed warbler (A. scirpaceus). Biologia (Bratislava), 56, 525 - 536.","Fenda, P. & Schniererova, E. (2004) Mites (Acarina: Mesostigmata) in the nests of Acrocephalus spp. and in neighbouring reeds. Biologia (Bratislava), 59 (Supplement 15), 41 - 47.","Fenda, P. & Schniererova, E. (2005) Mites (Acarina, Gamasida) in littoral zone of Jakubov fishponds (Slovakia). In: Tajovsky, K., Schlaghamersky, J. & Pizl, V. (Eds.), Contributions to Soil Zoology in Central Europe I. ISB AS CR, Ceske Budejovice, pp. 9 - 14.","Ambros, M., Kristofik, J. & Sustek, Z. (1992) The mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) in the birds nests' in Slovakia. Biologia (Bratislava), 47, 369 - 381.","Mrciak, M. & Rosicky, B. (1956) K faune roztocu radu cmelikovcu (Parasitiformes) z uzemi CSR. Zoologicke listy, 5, 143 - 148. [in Czech]","Kristofik, J., Masan, P., Sustek, Z. & Karaska, D. (2009) Arthropods in the nests of lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina). Biologia (Bratislava), 64, 974 - 980. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.2478 / s 11756 - 009 - 0148 - x","Kristofik, J., Sustek, Z. & Masan, P. (2002) Arthropods (Pseudoscorpionida, Acari, Coleoptera, Siphonaptera) in the nests of red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio) and lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor). Biologia (Bratislava), 57, 603 - 613.","Kristofik, J. & Masan, P. (1996) Population structure changes of Dermanyssus hirundinis and Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acarina, Mesostigmata) in the penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus) nests during the breeding period. Biologia (Bratislava), 51, 519 - 529.","Fenda, P. (2008) Roztoce (Acarina). In: Kalivodova, E., Bedrna, Z., Bulankova, E., David, S., Dugova, O., Fedor, P., Fenda, P., Gajdos, P., Gavlas, V., Kalivoda, H., Kollar, J., Kristin, A., Kubicek, F., Kurthy, A., Lukas, J., Magic, D., Olsovsky, T., Pastoralis, G., Svaton, J., Szaboova, A., Steffek, J., Stepanovicova, O. & Zaliberova, M. (Eds.), Flora a fauna viatych pieskov Slovenska. VEDA, Bratislava, pp. 64 - 68. [in Slovak]","Kristofik, J., Masan, P. & Sustek, Z. (2005) Arthropods in the nests of marsh warblers (Acrocephalus palustris). Biologia (Bratislava), 60, 171 - 177.","Kristofik, J., Masan, P. & Sustek, Z. (2007) Arthropods (Pseudoscorpionidea, Acari, Coleoptera, Siphonaptera) in the nests of the bearded tit (Panurus biarmicus). Biologia (Bratislava), 62, 749 - 755. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.2478 / s 11756 - 007 - 0142 - 0","Fenda, P. & Masan, P. (2003) Roztoce, Acari (Parasitiformes, ex. Uropodina). In: Masan, P. & Svaton, J. (Eds) Pavukovce Narodneho parku Poloniny, Arachnids of the Poloniny National Park (Arachnida: Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones, Opiliones, Acari - Parasitiformes). Statna ochrana prirody SR Banska Bystrica a Sprava Narodneho parku Poloniny, Snina, pp. 143 - 205. [in Slovak]","Krumpal, M., Cyprich, D., Fenda, P. & Pinowski, J. (2001) Invertebrate fauna in nests of the house sparrow Passer domesticus and the tree sparrow Passer montanus in central Poland. International Studies on Sparrows, 27 - 28, 35 - 58.","Svana, M., Fenda, P. & Orszaghova, Z. (2006) Roztoce (Acarina, Mesostigmata) v hniezdach vtakov JZ Slovenska. Folia Faunistica Slovaca, 11, 39 - 42. [in Slovak]","Fenda, P., Kucman, P., Bacikova, S., Orszaghova, Z., Puchala, P., Sobekova, K., Janoskova, V. & Meliskova, M. (2011) Roztoce (Acari, Mesostigmata) v hniezdach vrabca polneho (Passer montanus) v PR Sur (JZ Slovensko). Folia Faunistica Slovaca, 16, 37 - 44. [in Slovak]","Kristofik, J., Masan, P., Sustek, Z. & Gajdos, P. (1993) Arthropods in the nests of penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus). Biologia (Bratislava), 48, 493 - 505.","Masan, P. (1997) Changes in infestation rate and age structure of Dermanyssus hirundinis and Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acarina) during nidification and breeding period of penduline tit. Journal of Medical Entomology, 34, 609 - 614.","Kristofik, J., Masan, P., Sustek, Z. & Nuhlickova, S. (2013) Arthropods (Acarina, Coleoptera, Siphonaptera) in nests of hoopoe (Upupa epops) in Central Europe. Biologia, Section Zoology, 68, 155 - 161. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.2478 / s 11756 - 012 - 0135 - 5","Mrciak, M. (1963) O vztahoch niektorych druhov roztocov (Gamasoidea) k malym cicavcom a biotopom v Ondavskej vrchovine. Acta Facultatis Rerum Naturalium Universitatis Comenianae, Zoologia, 7, 437 - 532. [in Slovak]","Fenda, P. & Cicekova, J. (2005) Soil mites (Acari, Mesostigmata) of oak forests in the Male Karpaty Mts (W Slovakia). Ekologia (Bratislava), 24 (Suppl. 2), 102 - 112."]}

Genus: Ornithonyssus Sambon, 1928 Ornithonyssus Sambon, 1928: 105. Type species: Dermanyssus sylviarum Canestrini & Fanzago, 1877. The genus Ornithonyssus includes obligatorily haematophagous mites that are ectoparasites of birds and mammals. It contains up to 30 named species, distributed especially throughout the Neotropical and Nearctic Regions. The concept of Ornithonyssus used here follows the classification by Micherdziński (1980). That concept is considerably wider than that of Radovsky (2010), which divides Ornithonyssus into several separate genera. Three identified species are found in Slovakia, and all are considered to be cosmopolitan, namely O. bacoti, O. bursa and O. sylviarum (Radovsky 2010). The other Slovak member of the genus, Ornithonyssus pipistrelli, is essentially a parasite of vespertilionid bats, and can occasionally be found on some birds and dormice (Rodentia, Gliridae) and their nests, mainly on those nesting in natural tree hollows and artificial nest boxes used by bats for shelter., Published as part of Mašán, Peter, Fenďa, Peter, Krištofík, Ján & Halliday, Bruce, 2014, A review of the ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Dermanyssoidea) associated with birds and their nests in Slovakia, with notes on identification of some species, pp. 77-100 in Zootaxa 3893 (1) on page 84, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3893.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/225755, {"references":["Sambon, L. W. (1928) The parasitic acarians of animals and the part they play in the causation of the eruptive fevers and other diseases of man. Preliminary considerations based upon an ecological study of typhus fever. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 22, 67 - 132.","Canestrini, G. & Fanzago, F. (1877) Intorno agli Acari Italiani. Atti del Reale Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, Series 5, 4, 69 - 208 + plates II - VII.","Micherdzinski, W. (1980) Eine taxonomische Analyse der Familie Macronyssidae Oudemans, 1936 January Subfamilie Ornithonyssinae Lange, 1958 (Acarina, Mesostigmata). Polska akademia nauk, Panstwowe wydawnictwo naukowe, Warszawa-Krakow, 264 pp.","Radovsky, F. J. (2010) Revision of Genera of the Parasitic Mite Family Macronyssidae (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssoidea) of the World. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, Michigan, 170 pp."]}

Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst, 1913) Leiognathus bacoti Hirst, 1913: 122. Haemogamasus sanguineus Ewing & Stover, 1915: 109. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Liponyssus tenuiscutatus Ewing, 1923: 22. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Liponyssus nagayoi Yamada, 1931: 258. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Liponyssus hirsti Fonseca, 1935: 94. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Liponyssus brasiliensis Fonseca, 1939: 147. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Liponyssus lutzi Fonseca, 1942: 104. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Liponyssus monteiroi Fonseca, 1942: 107. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Liponyssus vitzthumi Fonseca, 1942: 110. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Liponyssus meprai Manso Soto & Pletneff, 1951: 15. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Bdellonyssus bacoti.— Zemskaya, 1955: 350. Ornithonyssus bacoti.— Evans & Till, 1966: 321; Wilson, 1967: 135; Micherdziński, 1980: 41. Taxonomic remarks. Our specimens from Slovakia are generally in good agreement with those described by Zemskaya (1955), Evans & Till (1966), Wilson (1967) and Micherdziński (1980), except for the length of the peritremes. The anterior sections of the peritremes in our specimens are slightly shorter than in the specimens previously described—they reach to the mid level of coxae II, while the peritremes in this species are usually described as reaching at least to the posterior margin of the coxae I. Occurrence and habitat. The European distribution of this species was originally centered mainly around ports and associated primarily with rats of the genus Rattus Fischer (Beran et al. 1956; Evans & Till 1966). There are only a few reports of this mite in Slovakia, mostly from associations with the house mouse, Mus musculus. The finding of some specimens in an aviary with the Australian zebra finch, Taeniopygia castanotis, is presumed to be an accidental but remarkable occurrence. Host distribution. Bird nests: Taeniopygia castanotis (Cyprich et al. 2000). Mammals: Mus musculus (Mrciak 1963, Ambros & Stanko 1989, Stanko 1995, Fenďa & Mašán 2003, new data). New data. Východoslovenská Rovina Lowland: 5 ♀♀, 30 October 1994, Markovce Village, Mus musculus., Published as part of Mašán, Peter, Fenďa, Peter, Krištofík, Ján & Halliday, Bruce, 2014, A review of the ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Dermanyssoidea) associated with birds and their nests in Slovakia, with notes on identification of some species, pp. 77-100 in Zootaxa 3893 (1) on pages 84-85, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3893.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/225755, {"references":["Hirst, S. (1913) On three new species of gamasid mites found on rats. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 4, 119 - 124. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1017 / s 0007485300043029","Ewing, H. E. & Stover, J. A. (1915) New parasitic mites (Acarina). Entomological News, 26, 109 - 114.","Strandtmann, R. W. & Wharton, G. W. (1958) A Manual of Mesostigmatid Mites Parasitic on Vertebrates. Institute of Acarology, Contribution No 4, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 330 pp., 69 pls.","Ewing, H. E. (1923) The dermanyssid mites of North America. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 62 (13), 1 - 26, 2 pls. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00963801.62 - 2459.1","Yamada, S. (1931) Observations on a house-infesting mite (Liponyssus nagayoi, n. sp.) which attacks human beings, rats, and other domestic mammals, with brief notes of experiments regarding the possibility of the plague-transmission by means of the mite. Transactions of the Far Eastern Association of Tropical Medicine, 2, 237 - 278.","Fonseca, F. (1935) Notas de Acareologia. Novas especies sul-americanas de parasitos do genero Liponissus Kolenati 1858 (Acarina, Liponissidae). Memorias do Instituto Butantan, 9, 69 - 98.","Micherdzinski, W. (1980) Eine taxonomische Analyse der Familie Macronyssidae Oudemans, 1936 January Subfamilie Ornithonyssinae Lange, 1958 (Acarina, Mesostigmata). Polska akademia nauk, Panstwowe wydawnictwo naukowe, Warszawa-Krakow, 264 pp.","Fonseca, F. (1939) Liponissus brasiliensis sp. n., parasita habitual de roedores e acidental do homen. Memorias do Instituto Butantan, 12, 147 - 154.","Fonseca, F. (1942) Notas de Acareologia. XXXII. Novas especies brasileiras do genero Liponissus Kolenati (Acari, Liponissidae). Memorias do Instituto Butantan, 15, 103 - 118.","Manso Soto, A. E. & Pletneff, P. (1951) Liponyssus meprai, nueva especie de Acarina. Mision de Estudios de Patologia Regional Argentina, 22 (79), 13 - 22.","Zemskaya, A. A. (1955) Gamasoid mites (Gamasoidea). Family Dermanyssidae. In: Bregetova, N. G., Bulanova-Zakhvatkina, E. M., Volgin, V. I., Dubinin, V. B., Zakhvatkin, A. A., Pavlovsky, E. N., Serdyukova, G. V. & Shuluger, E. G. (Eds.), Acarina of the rodent fauna of the USSR. Identification books of the USSR fauna. ZI USSR, Moscow & Leningrad, pp. 340 - 366. [in Russian]","Evans, G. O. & Till, W. M. (1966) Studies on the British Dermanyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata). Part 2. Classification. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology, 14, 107 - 370.","Wilson, N. (1967) Insects of Micronesia. Acarina: Mesostigmata. Dermanyssidae, Laelapidae, Spinturnicidae parasitic on vertebrates. Insects of Micronesia, 3, 133 - 148.","Beran, V., Privora, M. & Samsinak, K. (1956) Kvyskytu roztoce Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst, 1913) v Ceskoslovensku. Ceskoslovenska Parasitologie, 3, 13 - 19. [in Czech]","Cyprich, D., Fenda, P., Krumpal, M., Lukas, J. & Ambrus, B. (2000) Hniezdna fauna zebricky cervenozobej (Taeniopygia guttata castanotis). Tichodroma (Bratislava), 13, 189 - 200. [in Slovak]","Mrciak, M. (1963) O vztahoch niektorych druhov roztocov (Gamasoidea) k malym cicavcom a biotopom v Ondavskej vrchovine. Acta Facultatis Rerum Naturalium Universitatis Comenianae, Zoologia, 7, 437 - 532. [in Slovak]","Ambros, M. & Stanko, M. (1989) Poznamky k faune roztocov (Acari: Mesostigmata) drobnych zemnych cicavcov (Insectivora, Rodentia) z uzemia Chranenej krajinnej oblasti Vychodne Karpaty. Ochrana Prirody, 10, 491 - 501. [in Slovak]","Stanko, M. (1995) Sucasny stav poznania fauny ektopazitov (Siphonaptera, Anoplura, Ixodida, Mesostigmata) drobnych cicavcov uzemia Biosferickej rezervacie Vychodne Karpaty. Natura Carpatica, 36, 61 - 70. [in Slovak]","Fenda, P. & Masan, P. (2003) Roztoce, Acari (Parasitiformes, ex. Uropodina). In: Masan, P. & Svaton, J. (Eds) Pavukovce Narodneho parku Poloniny, Arachnids of the Poloniny National Park (Arachnida: Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones, Opiliones, Acari - Parasitiformes). Statna ochrana prirody SR Banska Bystrica a Sprava Narodneho parku Poloniny, Snina, pp. 143 - 205. [in Slovak]"]}

Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese, 1888) Leiognathus bursa Berlese, 1888: 208. Leiognathus morsitans Hirst, 1915: 56. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Leiognathus constrictus Ewing, 1923: 16. Synonymy by Strandtmann & Wharton (1958). Liponyssus eruditus Fonseca, 1935: 85. Synonymy by Micherdziński (1980). Liponyssus iheringi Fonseca, 1935: 89. Synonymy by Fonseca (1958). Ornithonyssus bursa.— Micherdziński, 1980: 53. Taxonomic remarks. Despite the fact that this species is easily recognisable, the Slovak specimens have been misidentified (Mašán & Országhová 1995) and incorrectly listed under the name Ornithonyssus sylviarum. Occurrence and habitat. This species is found throughout the temperate and tropical regions of the world. In Europe, it is relatively rare, but can be massively abundant in some colonies of the barn swallow Hirundo rustica (Gjelstrup & Møller 1986; Møller 2002). Ornithonyssus bursa is newly recorded for the Slovak fauna. Host distribution. Bird nests: Hirundo rustica (Mašán & Országhová 1995; Országhová et al. 2006; both as Ornithonyssus sylviarum). Revised data. Podunajská rovina lowland: 42 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 3 NN, 28 July 1993; 105 ♀♀, 11 ♂♂ 7 NN, 4 August 1993; 4,147 ♀♀, 736 ♂♂, 597 NN, 15 August 1993; 8,835 ♀♀, 1,513 ♂♂, 669 NN, 18 August 1993; 260 ♀♀, 22 ♂♂, 20 NN, 26 August 1993; 82 ♀♀, 12 ♂♂, 3 NN, 29 August 1993; 20,906 ♀♀, 9,182 ♂♂, 11,629 NN, 2 September 1993; 7,108 ♀♀, 6,039 ♂♂, 10,960 NN, 8 September 1993, Rusovce Village, Hirundo rustica., Published as part of Mašán, Peter, Fenďa, Peter, Krištofík, Ján & Halliday, Bruce, 2014, A review of the ectoparasitic mites (Acari: Dermanyssoidea) associated with birds and their nests in Slovakia, with notes on identification of some species, pp. 77-100 in Zootaxa 3893 (1) on page 85, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3893.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/225755, {"references":["Berlese, A. (1888) Acari austro-americani quos collegit Aloysius Balzan. Manipulus primus. Species novas circiter quinquaginta complectens. Bolletino della Societa Entomologica Italiana, 20, 171 - 222 + plates 5 - 13. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 1589","Strandtmann, R. W. & Wharton, G. W. (1958) A Manual of Mesostigmatid Mites Parasitic on Vertebrates. Institute of Acarology, Contribution No 4, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 330 pp., 69 pls.","Ewing, H. E. (1923) The dermanyssid mites of North America. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 62 (13), 1 - 26, 2 pls. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00963801.62 - 2459.1","Fonseca, F. (1935) Notas de Acareologia. Novas especies sul-americanas de parasitos do genero Liponissus Kolenati 1858 (Acarina, Liponissidae). Memorias do Instituto Butantan, 9, 69 - 98.","Micherdzinski, W. (1980) Eine taxonomische Analyse der Familie Macronyssidae Oudemans, 1936 January Subfamilie Ornithonyssinae Lange, 1958 (Acarina, Mesostigmata). Polska akademia nauk, Panstwowe wydawnictwo naukowe, Warszawa-Krakow, 264 pp.","Fonseca, F. (1958) Notas de Acareologia. XLIV. Inquerito sobre a fauna acarologica de parasitas no nordeste do Brasil. Memorias do Instituto Butantan, 28, 99 - 186.","Masan, P. & Orszaghova, Z. (1995) Infestation and age structure of Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acarina: Mesostigmata) and other mites occurrence in the Hirundo rustica nests. Biologia (Bratislava), 50, 475 - 479.","Gjelstrup, P. & Moller, A. P. (1986) Tropical fowl mite Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese 1988) in Danish swallow Hirundo rustica nests; with a review of haematophagous bird mites from Denmark. Entomologiske Meddelelser, 53, 119 - 125.","Moller, A. P. (2002) Temporal change in mite abundance and its effect on barn swallow reproduction and sexual selection. Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 15, 495 - 504. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1046 / j. 1420 - 9101.2002.00386. x","Orszaghova, Z., Hrvol, J., Benicka, V. & Sobekova, K. (2006) Fauna Bratislavy. Hniezdna biologia lastovicky domovej (Hirundo rustica). Univerzita Komenskeho Bratislava, Vydavatelstvo UK, Bratislava, 126 pp. [in Slovak]"]}

Modern commercial poultry production under large companies is expanding worldwide with similar methods and housing, and the accompanying arthropod and rodent pest problems. The pests increase the cost of production and are factors in the spread of avian diseases. The biology, behavior and control of ectoparasites and premise pests are described in relation to the different housing and production practices for broiler breeders, turkey breeders, growout (broilers and turkeys), caged-layers, and pullets. Ectoparasites include Ornithonyssus fowl mites, Dermanyssus chicken mites, lice, bedbugs, fleas, and argasid fowl ticks. Premise pests include Alphitobius darkling beetles, Dermestes hide beetles, the house fly and several related filth fly species, calliphorid blow flies, moths, cockroaches, and rodents. Populations of these pests are largely determined by the housing, waste, and flock management practices. An integrated pest management (IPM) approach, tailored to the different production systems, is required for satisfactory poultry pest control. Biosecurity, preventing the introduction of pests and diseases into a facility, is critical. Poultry IPM, based on pest identification, pest population monitoring, and methods of cultural, biological, and chemical control, is elucidated. The structure of the sophisticated, highly integrated poultry industry provides a situation conducive to refinement and wider implementation of IPM.

Using the African diederik cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius and four sympatric passerine foster species in the subfamily Ploceinae, we show that nestling cuckoos are infested by feather lice and mites derived from the ectoparasite fauna typical of the foster species. Adult cuckoos had five species of lice and mites normally found on ploceines, which demonstrates that these ectoparasites are able to survive on foreign hosts. This is the first record of persistence of passerine ectoparasites on a cuckoo. Adult diederik cuckoos also harboured four species of mites and lice specific to cuckoos; since these were not detected on nestlings, cuckoo-specific lice and mites apparently transfer to cuckoos after they leave the nest. Contrary to prediction, ectoparasites with a life cycle involving a permanent association with their host (feather mites and lice) were more likely to transfer to cuckoo nestlings than ectoparasites which spend part of their life cycle away from their host (haematophagous mites and phoretic skin mites). New host records are established for the lice genera Brueelia, Cuculoecus, Machaerilaemus, Myrsidea, Philopterus as well as for the mite species Microlichus americanus, Ornithonyssus bursa, Ornithocheyla megaphallos, Pellonyssus reedi, Pteronyssoides passeris, Pternonyssus glossifer, Trouessartia baupi, T. carpi, Xolalges plocei, X. scaurus and the mite genus Passeroptes.

House mice, Mus musculus, are reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and parasites, but most consumers assume mice sold by pet stores are disease- and parasite free. We purchased 30 frozen mice from 15 pet stores in South Carolina and examined them for ectoparasites. All mice were infested with 1 or more of the following ectoparasites: unidentified Acaridae, Liponyssoides sanguineus, Myocoptes musculinus, Myobia musculi, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Polyplax serrata, or Radfordia affinis. Both L. sanguineus and O. bacoti are vectors of zoonotic pathogens. The presence of ectoparasites on commercially available mice implies that other pets could be infested with ectoparasites.

The introduction of an exotic species usually modifies parasite-host dynamics by the import of new parasites or the exotic species' acquiral of local parasites. The loss of parasites may determine the outcome of an invasion if the introduced species is liberated from co-evolved parasites in its range of invasion. In addition, an introduced species may pose sanitary risks to humans and other mammals if it serves as a reservoir of pathogens or carries arthropod vectors. The red-bellied squirrel, Callosciurus erythraeus (Pallas) (Rodentia: Sciuridae), was introduced into Argentina in 1970, since when several foci of invasion have been closely associated with humans. Investigation of the parasitological fauna of C. erythraeus in Argentina will generate new information about novel parasite-host dynamics and may provide new insight into the reasons for the successful invasion of this species. The objective of this study was to describe the arthropod parasites of C. erythraeus in Argentina in comparison with previous studies of parasites of this species in its native habitat and in the ranges of its invasion. Occasional host-parasite associations with local arthropod parasites not previously described for C. erythraeus are reported; these include the mites Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Ewing) (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) and Ornithonyssus cf. bacoti (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae), the flea Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus Jordan (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae) and the botfly Cuterebra Clark (Diptera: Oestridae: Cuterebrinae). Cheyletus sp. mites (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) were also found. The low prevalence and mean intensity of ectoparasite species may influence invasion dynamics.

Based on chaetotaxy of the dorsal shield, the taxonomic status of many species of Ornithonyssus has been considered invalid, resulting in the synonymy of all Brazilian Ornithonyssus from small terrestrial wild mammals into one of the following four species: Ornithonyssus bacoti (Hirst, 1913), Ornithonyssus matogrosso (Fonseca, 1954), Ornithonyssus pereirai (Fonseca, 1935) or Ornithonyssus wernecki (Fonseca, 1935). Despite the revision of this genus in 1980, including all known species worldwide, the knowledge of Ornithonyssus in Brazil has not progressed for more than 40 years. Considering the potential importance of these haematophagous mites in transmitting rickettsial disease agents to animals and humans, we have revised Ornithonyssus species collected from small mammals in Brazil by means of morphological and molecular studies. Types and other material deposited in the Acari Collection of the Instituto Butantan (IBSP) were examined in addition to recently collected specimens. Morphological and genetic analysis of the 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene revealed that small terrestrial mammals in Brazil are parasitized by six species of Ornithonyssus mites: Ornithonyssus brasiliensis (Fonseca, 1939), O. matogrosso, O. monteiroi (Fonseca, 1941), O. pereirai, O. vitzthumi (Fonseca, 1941), and O. wernecki. An illustrated key to females of the valid Brazilian species of Ornithonyssus is included, based on optical and scanning electron microscopy.

Medicinsk entomologi

Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago) ���northern fowl mite Ex Iridoprocne bicolor (tree swallow) nest: 34 F, 1 N, GSMNP, no other data, W. K. Reeves, L�� 3051. Despite its vernacular name, this blood��feeding mite parasitizes many species of wild birds (Garvin et al. 2004) and some mammals (Whitaker & Wilson 1974). Ornithonyssus wernecki (Fonseca) Ex Didelphis virginiana (Virginia opossum): 1 F, NC, Swain Co., US 441, 1 Feb. 2006, W. K. Reeves. Ornithonyssus wernecki mainly parasitizes the Virginia opossum in North America (Whitaker & Wilson 1974)., Published as part of Reeves, Will K., Durden, Lance A., Ritzi, Christopher M., Beckham, Katy R., Super, Paul E & Oconnor, Barry M., 2007, Ectoparasites and other ectosymbiotic arthropods of vertebrates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, pp. 31-68 in Zootaxa 1392 on page 54, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.273680

Se describe el caso de una dermatitis asociada a ácaros macronísidos en una paciente femenina de Tuetal Norte (Provincia de Alajuela), Costa Rica. El cuadro clínico mostró un brote generalizado con prurito constante. Los demás miembros del grupo familiar presentaron manifestaciones similares. La paciente comentó que "diminutos animales" caminaban por su cuerpo y por las paredes de la casa. Una muestra de estos organismos fue aclarada y montada entre porta y cubreobjetos para su examen microscópico, la cual mostró la presencia de ácaros macronísidos. El tratamiento fue realizado con jabón de Tetmosol®, Eurax® en loción y Atarax®. Diez días luego de iniciado el tratamiento se documentó la cura del cuadro. A case of dermatitis associated to macronyssid mites in a female patient from Tuetal Norte, an rural town in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica is described. The patient showed an intense and generalized rash with constant pruritus, and the other family members presented similar manifestations. The patient described "small animals" walking over her body and on the house walls. A sample of these organisms was cleared and mounted for microscopic examination. The analysis of the preparations revealed mites belonging to the family Macronyssidae. Treatment was performed with Tetmosol® soap, Eurax® lotion and Atarax®. The application of an acaricid solution in the house was recommended. The patient was cured 10 days after the beginning of treatment. Universidad de Costa Rica/[ED-548]/UCR/Costa Rica UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiología UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET)

Eight species of ectoparasites were collected from 166 commensal rodents, including Rattus rattus (L.), Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout), and Mus musculus (L.), from January to December 1986, in Huambo, Angola. The oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild), was the predominant species with respect to mean intensity and prevalence. Other fleas collected were Ctenophthalmus (Ethioctenophthalmus) machadoi Ribeiro, Dinopsyllus (Dinopsyllus) smiti Ribeiro, and Echidnophaga gallinacea (Westwood). The mite Laelaps (Echinolaelaps) muricola Trägärdh, the louse Polyplax spinulosa (Burmeister), one species of Ixodes Latreille, and one species of Ornithonyssus Sambon were also recorded. The following represent new host records: C. machadoi from R. rattus and R. norvegicus, D. smiti from M. musculus, and L. muricola from R. rattus and M. musculus. For the first time, the monthly flea indices throughout the year are presented for Angola.

We review the parasitic mites of the superfamily Dermanyssoidea found in the nests of Slovakian domestic and wild birds (and a few mammals), compiled from new data and literature sources. Three mite genera are included, namely Dermanyssus Duges (Dermanyssidae), Ornithonyssus Sambon and Pellonyssus Clark & Yunker (Macronyssidae), in which we recognised nine reliably documented species. Pellonyssus is represented by one species, Dermanyssus by five species, and Ornithonyssus by three species. We compiled information on the ecological requirements and host preferences of these mite species, including data on geographic distribution, altitudinal distribution, and occurrence in different habitats and nest types. An identification key to the species occurring in Slovakia is provided, together with taxonomic remarks on the identification and external morphology of some selected species. Parasitic mites have been reported from 119 taxa of Slovakian vertebrates (including man), of which 108 belong to 17 orders of birds. Dermanyssus americanus Ewing and Ornithonyssus bursa (Berlese) are reported from Slovakia for the first time. Examination of older voucher material collected in Slovakia revealed many misidentified specimens: the name Dermanyssus hirundinis (Hermann) has been widely used for misidentified specimens of Dermanyssus carpathicus Zeman; D. americanus was confused with D. hirundinis; while O. bursa has been confused with Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago). Slovakia is the second country in Europe with known occurrence of the genus Pellonyssus.

"Pellonyssus nidicolus Baker, Delfinado, and Abbatiello, 1976 is relegated to the status of a junior synonym of Pellonyssus reedi (Zumpt and Patterson, 1952). The synonymy of Pellonyssus passeri Clark and Yunker, 1956 with P. reedi is sustained. The Pellonyssus specimens reported by Estébanes-González (1997) are identified here as belonging in part to P. reedi and in part to P. marui Yunker and Radovsky, 1966, the first records of these species in Mexico. The third identified species of Pellonyssus known in the New World is a parasite of hummingbirds, Pellonyssus gorgasi Yunker and Radovsky, 1966, previously reported from Mexico. Keys to identify the females, males, and protonymphs of these 3 species are given. A character grid is given to compare features of females of the 9 valid species of Pellonyssus in the world. The subspecies Ornithonyssus sylviarum utrechtensis Micherdzinski, 1980 is synonymized with the nominal subspecies O.s. sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877)."

Twelve species of ectoparasites (four fleas, three ticks, three chiggers, one macronyssid mite, and one atopomelid mite) were recovered from 42 opossums, Didelphis virginiana Kerr, live-trapped from September 1992 through April 1994 in southeastern Georgia. The fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche) (prevalence = 19%) and Polygenis gwyni (C. Fox) (36%); the ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Say) (40%) and Ixodes scapularis Say (19%); and the macronyssid mite, Ornithonyssus wernecki (Fonseca) (21%), exhibited the highest infestation prevalences on opossums. The atopomelid mite, Didelphilichus serrifer Fain, and the chigger mite Leptotrombidium peromysci Vercammen-Grandjean & Langston, both ectoparasites of opossums, are reported from Georgia for the first time. Six species of ectoparasites (one chewing louse, four ticks, and one macronyssid mite) were collected from 58 raccoons, Procyon lotor (L.), examined between October 1992 and September 1993 in the same region. The chewing louse, Trichodectes octomaculatus Paine (prevalence = 24%); and the ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.) (69%), D. variabilis (55%), and Ixodes texanus Banks (24%), exhibited the highest infestation prevalences on raccoons. Three species of ticks, A. americanum, D. variabilis, and I. scapularis, were the only ectoparasites recovered from both host species. Several of the ectoparasites collected are proven vectors of pathogenic agents that affect humans and animals.

Thirteen species of ectoparasitic (12) or phoretic (1) arthropods were collected from 26 adult Virginia opossums, Didelphis virginiana, live-trapped from April through September 1987 in Davidson County, Tennessee. The cat flea Ctenocephalides felis and the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis were the predominant species with respect to mean intensity and prevalence. The macronyssid mite Ornithonyssus wernecki and the atopomelid mite Didelphilichus serrifer, both specific parasites of this host, showed high intensities but low prevalences. Other fleas collected were Cediopsylla simplex, Ctenophthalmus pseudagyrtes, and Orchopeas howardi. The tick Amblyomma americanum, the myobiid mite Archemyobia inexpectatus, and the trombiculid (chigger) mites Eutrombicula splendens, Leptotrombidium peromysci (first record from this host) and Neotrombicula cavicola (first record from this host), were also recorded. One phoretic species, the glycyphagid mite Marsupialichus brasiliensis, was noted.

Four new species of Ornithonyssus are described: O. acrobates from Acrobates pygmaeus (Shaw) (Marsupialia: Burramyidae); O. taphozous from Taphozous georgianus Thomas (Chiroptera: Emballonuridae); O. stigmaticus from T. flaviventris Peters; and O. campester from T. georgianus (principal host). Ornithonyssus latro Domrow is newly recorded from Eptesicus douglasorum Kitchener (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae); O. praedo Domrow from Rattus tunneyi (Thomas), Pseudomys nanus (Gould), Zyzomys argurus (Thomas) and Z. woodwardi (Thomas) (all Rodentia: Muridae), from Antechinus macdonnellensis (Spencer), Dasyurus hallucatus Gould, Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer) and Sminthopsis crassicaudata (Gould) (all Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) and from Tarsipes spencerae Gray (Marsupialia: Tarsipedidae); and Pellonyssus reedi (Zumpt and Patterson) from Steganopleura bichenovii (Vigors and Horsfield) and Donacola castaneothorax (Gould) (both Passeriformes: Ploceidae) and Neophema bourkii (Gould) (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae, c...

Northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini & Fanzago) (Acari: Macronyssidae), were fed artificially through chick skin membranes to investigate several factors that affected the degree of mite feeding. More mites fed after starving 24 h than unstarved mites or mites starved 48 or 72 h. Protonymphs fed as well as adults. More mites fed on refrigerated blood than on fresh blood and on frozen blood than on refrigated blood. However, mites fed well on newly drawn blood that had been lysed. They fed as well on plasma and serum as on whole blood but less well on washed erythrocytes. They also fed well on citrated blood, but fewer mites fed on oxalated blood or freshly defibrinated blood. Resume Facteurs intervenant sur la prise de nourriture a travers une membrane par l'acarien nordique des volailles, Ornithonyssus sylviarum O. sylviarum Canestri & Fanzago a ete alimente artificiellement pour etudier plusieurs facteurs qui affectent l'intensite de la prise de nourriture. Le dispositif d'alimentation consistait en un cylindre de verre de 24 mm de long, dont les ouvertures etaient fermees, a une extremite par une membrane en peau de volaille, et a l'autre extremite avec du polyethylene. Apres un jeune de 24 h, le nombre de pucerons qui s'etaient alimentes etait plus eleve (87%) qu'apres un jeune de 48 ou 72 h (respectivement 71 et 73%) ou en absence de jeune (11%). Les protonymphes se sont aussi bien alimentees que les adultes; elles ont ete significativement plus nombreuses a le faire apres 2 h (84%) qu'apres 1 h (71%). Le sang refroidi pendant une nuit, ou pendant une ou 2 semaines a ete consomme par un plus grand nombre d'acariens (59%, 70% et 78%) que le sang frais (46%); les differences entre durees voisines ne sont pas significatives, mais elles le sont entre une nuit et deux semaines. Le sang congele pendant 1, 2 ou 4 semaines a ete consomme par un plus grand nombre d'acariens (87%, 90% et 82%) que le sang refroid; la consommation etait aussi bonne pour les differentes durees de congelation. Puisque les acariens se sont bien alimentes sur sang lyse (75%), les materiaux propres au sang frais devaient etre tombes hors d'atteinte des pieces bucales des acariens. Autant se sont alimentes sur plasma (87%), serum (79%) que sur sang complet (85%), mais ils ont ete moins nombreux a le faire sur erythrocytes laves (69%); ils ont ete nombreux a le faire sur sang citrate (87%), mais en plus faible nombre sur sang oxalate (66%) ou defibrine depuis peu (32%). Le taux de mortalite des acariens qui avaient consomme du sang oxalate etait elevee (25%), a l'oppose de celui observa apres alimentation sur sang citrate (6%) ou sang heparinise (9%). Le sang defibrine n'etait pas lyse, et ales erythrocytes etaient probablement hors d'atteinte, et ainsi, noningeres par les acariens.

O. dasyuri sp. n. is figured and described from the dasyurid marsupial Dasyurus viverrinus (Shaw) in Tasmania. It shares with the 3 known endemic Australian species the character setae j3 retained on dorsal shield, and a key to this group is provided. O. petauri Micherdzinski is newly recorded from the petaurid marsupial Schoinobates volans (Kerr).

A general account is given of the morphology of the gnathosoma of Phityogamasusprimitivus (Oudms.) based on serial sections. The examination of the hypostomal region of Phityogamasus Athias, Laelaps Koch and Ornithonyssus Sambon using Scanning Electron Microscopy has revealed significant structural differences between these genera which are attributed to their different feeding habits.

High levels of social interaction or dietary administration of corticosterone or desoxycorticosterone were shown to increase resistance of roosters to Ornithonyssus sylvarium infestation. The concentration of steroid in the feed which produced this effect was critical, and increasing concentrations past this level did not appear to augment resistance. Roosters maintained under low levels of social interaction were more affected by steroids in the feed than were their high stress counterparts as measured by weight gain and selected organ weight. No difference in antibody production against horse erythrocytes was noted between birds under high and low levels of social stress, or between birds receiving different steroid treatments. Histologic examination of tissue dorsad to the cloaca indicated that mite population differences in response to stress or steroid treatment may be linked to capillary density at the skin surface.