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Co-occurrence of Eutrombicula alfreddugesi and Oswaldofilaria chabaudi in Tropidurus torquatus and first report of microfilariae in the chigger mite: possible evidence of a lifecycle pathway?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 May 2021

P.V. Alves ,
S.C. Gomides  and
F.B. Pereira Open the ORCID record for F.B. Pereira [Opens in a new window]
P.V. Alves
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
S.C. Gomides
Affiliation:
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Campus Oriximiná, Rodovia PA-254, 257, Santíssimo, CEP 68270-000, Oriximiná, PA, Brazil
F.B. Pereira*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: F.B. Pereira, E-mail: felipebisaggiop@hotmail.com
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Abstract

While much attention has been paid to vector-borne filariasis, diseases that threaten millions of people in tropical and subtropical countries, the literature on host–parasite associations and transmission strategies of filarial nematodes in wildlife is scarce. Here, we report the co-occurrence of chigger mites (Eutrombicula alfreddugesi) and onchocercid nematodes (Oswaldofilaria chabaudi) parasitizing the lizard Tropidurus torquatus in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Examination of chiggers established, for the first time, the occurrence of microfilariae in trombiculid mites (Trombiculidae). These larvae were morphologically similar to those recovered from adult females of O. chabaudi. The current evidence suggests that chiggers do not play a role in the transmission of filarioid nematodes, but rather act as accidental or dead-end hosts. Nevertheless, considering the polyphagous nature of trombiculid mites, similar to blood-sucking insects involved in the transmission of several infectious diseases, further studies may shed light on the potential role of chiggers as vectors of filarioids.

Keywords

Nematodaendoparasitefilarioidhost–parasite associationbiologyectoparasitelizardNeotropical region
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 95 , 2021 , e25
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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