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Rieger A, Just FT, Michelakaki E, Eddicks L, Gager AM, Schöl H, Gohl C, Steinmetz HW, Blutke AF, Denk D. Demodex carolliae in a colony of Seba's short-tailed bats (Carollia perspicillata): clinical, pathological and parasitological findings. J Comp Pathol 2023; 203:5-12. [PMID: 37119605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2023.03.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Seba's short-tailed bats (Carollia perspicillata) are a frugivorous species native to Central and South America. Despite their importance as a reservoir for zoonotic pathogens and their popularity in zoological collection and as research models, there are relatively few reports on non-zoonotic diseases of bats. Mites of the genus Demodex are obligate commensals of the skin of a range of mammals, are highly host-specific and are not associated with clinical disease when present in low numbers. However, infestation with high numbers can result in severe or even fatal disease and substantially affect the well-being of the animals. The clinical, pathological and parasitological findings in 12 Seba's short-tailed bats with demodicosis from a colony kept at Munich Zoo Hellabrunn between 1992 and 2021 are described in this report. From 2002, skin lesions became apparent on the head, especially the periocular region, nose and ears, as well as the genital area of some animals. In advanced cases, skin changes were also present on the abdomen, back and extremities. Gross findings typically included alopecia and thickening of the skin, with the formation of papules, reflecting cystically dilated hair follicles containing myriads of demodecid mites. Histologically, lesions were characterized by a paucicellular lymphocytic dermatitis and folliculitis with perifollicular fibrosis, epidermal hyperplasia, orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and disproportionately high numbers of intrafollicular arthropods. Demodex carolliae was identified morphologically by light, phase-contrast and electron microscopy. Further characterization was achieved by extraction of parasitic DNA and partial gene sequencing of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rDNA and cox1. This is the first clinicopathological description of generalized demodicosis in Seba's short-tailed bats and includes the first molecular characterization of D. carolliae with provision of a GenBank entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Rieger
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Frank T Just
- Department for Pathology, Parasitology and Bee Diseases, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Veterinaerstrasse 2, 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Effrosyni Michelakaki
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Lina Eddicks
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Anna M Gager
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Heidrun Schöl
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Christine Gohl
- Münchener Tierpark Hellabrunn AG, Tierparkstr. 30, 81543 Munich, Germany
| | | | - Andreas F Blutke
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany
| | - Daniela Denk
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Center for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinaerstr. 13, 80539 Munich, Germany.
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The Biodiversity of Demodecid Mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata), Specific Parasites of Mammals with a Global Checklist and a New Finding for Demodex sciurinus. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12070261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Demodecidae are the most specialized parasitic mites of mammals; they typically inhabit the skin, but they have been found in other tissues and organs. They can cause demodecosis (a disease which is hazardous and difficult to cure) in humans, domestic animals and livestock. They are parasites with high host and topical specificity. They have been found for most orders of mammals, and they are common in the populations of numerous host species. Therefore, they not only constitute an important subject of veterinary and medical study, but also comprise an excellent model for faunistic and parasitological analyses concerning different aspects of functioning and evolution of the host–parasite relationship. The current level or knowledge of demodecid mites is irregular and fragmentary, and numerous questions require elaboration and ordering, from the taxonomic diversity to geographic distribution and relations with hosts. Such data may be of use i.a. for the development of more efficient and reliable diagnostic methods, as well as understanding the etiology and pathogenesis mechanisms of demodecosis, currently a contentious issue. The present paper lists all formally-described valid species of demodecid mites, together with other functioning specific names, verified and with comments on their status. This is significant for correct species identification and demodecosis diagnostics. The list has been drawn up on the basis of data acquired in the period 1842−2020. It contains 122 valid species of parasite, including their hosts and geographic distribution, data on parasitism, as well as only the second record of Demodex sciurinus in Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in over 100 years since its initial discovery.
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