Quill Mites Research Articles

Co-Infestation of Dermoglyphus sp. and Syringophilus sp. Causing Pruritic Dermatitis in a Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) – A Case Report

An 18-month-old, female budgerigar was brought to Small Animal Clinics Out- Patient Medicine unit with the signs of restlessness, excessive preening and damaged, ruffled feathers. Physical examination revealed loss of feathers in the periocular area and head. Feather samples collected from affected area revealed the presence of quill mites, Dermoglyphus sp. and Syringophilus sp The bird was diagnosed to have dermatitis due to heavy quill mite infestation. The bird was treated with ivermectin (0.2mg/Kg, PO) and repeated once in 10 days intervals for 40 days. The owner was advised to clean the cages and nest boxes thoroughly and keep the affected birds in a separate cages to check the spread of mite infestation.

The Occurrence of Quill Mites (Arachnida: Acariformes: Syringophilidae) on Bee-Eaters (Aves: Coraciiformes: Meropidae: Merops) of Two Sister Clades.

Simple SummaryParasitic mites of the family Syringophilidae (quill mites) represent the most diverse prostigmatan family associated with birds. Here, we aim (i) to investigate quill mites of a well-defined monophyletic clade of nine bee-eater species, containing mostly migratory African and Asian species; (ii) to establish ectoparasite geographic ranges; and (iii) to discuss patterns of host-parasite relationships and possible host-switches. We have found that despite quill mites being highly specific on the host species or genus level, host-switches may occur, particularly when the ecology of host species overlaps.We studied the quill mite fauna of the family Syringophilidae, associated with bee-eaters. We examined 273 bird specimens belonging to nine closely related species of the genus Merops, representing two phylogenetic sister clades of a monophyletic group. Our examination reveals the presence of two species of the genus Peristerophila, as follows: (1) a new species Peristerophila mayri sp. n. from Merops viridis in the Philippines, M. leschenaulti in Nepal and Sri Lanka, and M. orientalis in Sri Lanka; and (2) P. meropis from M. superciliosus in Tanzania and Egypt, M. persicus in Sudan, Tanzania, Liberia, Senegal, Kenya, and D.R. Congo, M. ornatus in Papua New Guinea, M. philippinus in Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and M. americanus in the Philippines. The prevalence of host infestations by syringophilid mites varied from 3.1 to 38.2%. The distribution of syringophilid mites corresponds with the sister clade phylogenetic relationships of the hosts, except for P. meropis associated with Merops americanus. Possible hypotheses for the host lineage shift are proposed.

Global Studies of the Host-Parasite Relationships between Ectoparasitic Mites of the Family Syringophilidae and Birds of the Order Columbiformes.

Simple SummaryMites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea)—also called quill mites—are permanent and highly specialized ectoparasites of birds living inside the calamus of the various types of the feathers. In the present paper, we conducted a study focused on prevalence, host specificity, networks, and phylogeny of the syringophilid mites parasitizing on pigeon and doves (Columbiformes). We postulate that the Syringophilidae mites and Columbiformes bird system represent a model which can be used in a broader study of the relationship between hosts and parasites.The quill mites belonging to the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) are obligate ectoparasites of birds. They inhabit different types of the quills, where they spend their whole life cycle. In this paper, we conducted a global study of syringophilid mites associated with columbiform birds. We examined 772 pigeon and dove individuals belonging to 112 species (35% world fauna) from all zoogeographical regions (except Madagascan) where Columbiformes occur. We measured the prevalence (IP) and the confidence interval (CI) for all infested host species. IP ranges between 4.2 and 66.7 (CI 0.2–100). We applied a bipartite analysis to determine host–parasite interaction, network indices, and host specificity on species and whole network levels. The Syringophilidae–Columbiformes network was composed of 25 mite species and 65 host species. The bipartite network was characterized by a high network level specialization H2′ = 0.93, high nestedness N = 0.908, connectance C = 0.90, and high modularity Q = 0.83, with 20 modules. Moreover, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the quill mites associated with columbiform birds on the generic level. Analysis shows two distinct clades: Meitingsunes + Psittaciphilus, and Peristerophila + Terratosyringophilus.

Distribution of the parasitic mite Bubophilus aegolius sp. n. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) on the Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus (L) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) and the low effectiveness of infestation

The mite family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) includes permanent parasites of birds exclusively, occupying their quill feathers where they reproduce and feed on living tissue fluids, piercing the quill-wall with their long and stiletiform chelicerae. The Boreal Owl, Aegolius funereus (L.) (Strigiformes: Strigidae) is parasitised by the Bubophilus aegolius, which is a new species of syringophilid mite described herein. In our study a total of 55 Boreal Owls were examined, including birds from Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland, and Norway. A total of four host specimens from Poland, Switzerland, and Finland were infested by Bubophilus aegolius (index of prevalence IP = 7.3; 95% confidence interval for prevalence (Sterne’s method) CI = 2.5–17.9). In the material consisting of 14 juvenile (in the 1st calendar year) and 41 adults (in the 2nd calendar year or older) birds, only juvenile hosts were infested (IP = 28.6%; CI = 10.4–57.4). Among 3,190 examined feathers (primaries (N = 1,100), secondaries (N = 1,430), rectrices (N = 660), quill mites were found only in four feathers, each feather from a single host specimen: in two small secondaries, S12, S13, and in two middle rectrices R1. This low prevalence may be related to the solitary behaviour of owls and the marginal role of horizontal transfers of parasites between hosts. Hypothetically, the low number of infested feathers on the host indicates low effectiveness (= high mortality) during transmission, where – in each case – only one fertilised female foundress (dispersal stage) was able to transfer from the parent to the offspring and enter a new quill feather. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:66025B6E-A126-48FF-8B1A-F618265CA34D

New species and records of the quill mites of the genus Peristerophila Kethley, 1970 (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) associated with pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbiformes).

The fauna of the quill mite genus Peristerophila Kethley, 1970 (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) associated with pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbiformes) is reviewed. In our study, we examined 109 species of columbiform hosts of which 28 species belonging to nine genera were infested by Peristerophila mites. In the analyzed mite material, six species of this genus were found including two new species described herein: P. geopelis sp. nov. from Geopelia cuneata, G. placida, G. striata, as well as Ocyphaps lophotes and P. leucomela sp. nov. from Columba leucomela. Additionally, eighteen new host species and many new locality records for the previously described taxa are reported.

<p class="Body"><strong>Females of the quill mite genera <em>Peristerophila</em> and <em>Castosyringophilus</em> (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) are two morphological forms: ontogenetic and population evidences</strong></p>

The comparative study of ontogeny and morphological structures of quill mite infrapopulations of a newly described species Peristerophila hirundineus sp. nov. from Merops hirundineus (Coraciiformes: Meropidae), collected in Namibia, D.R. Congo, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania, shows evidence of female dimorphism in the genus Peristerophila Kethley, 1970. This proves that females of quill mite species referred to the genus Peristerophila are homeomorph forms, while those referred to the genus Castosyringophilus Bochkov and Perez, 2003 are heteromorph ones. Therefore, the genus Castosyringophilus syn. nov. is synonymized herein with the genus Peristerophila. The following new combinations for mite species formerly referred to Castosyringophilus are proposed: Peristerophila forpi (Bochkov and Perez, 2002) comb. nov., P. claravis (Skoracki and Glowska 2008) comb. nov., and P. meropis (Skoracki, Hromada and Sikora, 2017) comb. nov. The possible evolutionary sense of the female dimorphism in syringophilid mites is discussed.

Rafapicobia olszanowskii, a New Species of Syringophilid Mite (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) from Semnornis ramphastinus (Piciformes: Semnornithidae)

A new quill mite species Rafapicobia olszanowskiisp. nov., belonging to the subfamily Picobiinae (Acariformes: Syringophilidae), is described from quills of contour feathers of the Toucan Barbet Semnornis ramphastinus (Jardine) (Piciformes: Semnornithidae) from Ecuador. Our finding is the first record of syringophilid mites on birds of the family Semnornithidae.

The mites of the genus Meitingsunes Glowska and Skoracki (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) associated with pigeons and doves (Aves: Columbiformes): taxonomic studies with description of two new species

ABSTRACT Quill mite fauna of the genus Meitingsunes Glowska and Skoracki, 2010 associated with birds of the order Columbiformes is revised. Two new species are described: Meitingsunes ptilinopus sp. nov. from Ptilinopus magnificus (Temminck) in Australia and Papua New Guinea and from P. rivoli (Prévost) in Papua New Guinea, and M. lengai sp. nov. from Columba delegorguei Delegorgue in Tanzania, Streptopelia semitorquata (Rüppell) in Tanzania, and Streptopelia orientalis (Latham) in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, we report several new hosts for previously known species of the genus and provide a key to all species of the genus. http://www.zoobank.org/lsid:zoobank.org:act:0BA5B8AD-F161-4BBD-97D0-7B2B51994066 http://www.zoobank.org/lsid:zoobank.org:pub:941505D8-D375-4933-9E36-AAF263DBA274

New and interesting records of quill mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) of passerine birds of southwestern Ukraine

New and interesting records of quill mites (Acari: Prostigmata, Syringophilidae) of passerine birds of southwestern Ukraine are presented. Three genera (Betasyringophiloidus Skoracki, 2011; Neoaulonastus Skoracki, 2004; TorotroglaKethley, 1970) and 11 species (Betasyringophiloidus saxicolus Skoracki, 2011; B. phoenicurus Skoracki, 2011; Neoaulonastus bisetatus (Fritsch, 1958); Syringophilopsis acrocephali Skoracki, 1999; S. blaszaki Skoracki & Dabert, 1999; S. fringillae (Fritsch, 1958); S. hirundus Skoracki, 2004; S. kazmierski Skoracki, 2004; S. rusticus Skoracki, 2004; Torotrogla rubeculi Skoracki, 2004; T. merulae Skoracki, Dabert & Ehrnsberger, 2000) are recorded for the first time in Ukraine. New host record for S. rusticus Skoracki, 2004 is given. The syringophilid fauna presently recorded from Ukraine is summarized and keyed.

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) parasitizing coraciiform birds (Aves: Coraciiformes).

Three new species of the family Syringophilidae associated with birds of the pantropically distributed order Coraciiformes are described: two new species of the subfamily Picobiinae-Rafapicobia momoti sp. nov. ex the Rufous-capped Motmot Baryphthengus ruficapillus (Vieillot) (Momotidae) from Brazil, Rafapicobia brachypteraci sp. nov. ex the Rufous-headed Ground-Roller Atelornis crossleyi Sharpe (Brachypteraciidae) from Madagascar, and one new species of the subfamily Syringophilinae-Peristerophila coraciidus sp. nov. ex the Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis (Linnaeus) (Coraciidae) from Papua New Guinea. Additionally, the Collared Kingfisher, Todiramphus chloris (Boddaert) (Alcedinidae), is recorded as a new host for Peristerophila meropis Skoracki et al., 2017. In all these host families, syringophilids are recorded for the first time. Moreover, our findings represent the first records of picobiines from coraciiform birds. Currently, the fauna of quill mites associated with coraciiforms includes six species grouped in the three genera: Rafapicobia Skoracki, 2011, Peristerophila Kethley, 1970, and Syringophilopsis Kethley, 1970. All these genera seem to be typically telluravian and have been also recorded from passeriform birds.

Microbial composition of enigmatic bird parasites: Wolbachia and Spiroplasma are the most important bacterial associates of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae).

BackgroundThe microbiome is an integral component of many animal species, potentially affecting behavior, physiology, and other biological properties. Despite this importance, bacterial communities remain vastly understudied in many groups of invertebrates, including mites. Quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) are a poorly known group of permanent bird ectoparasites that occupy quills of feathers and feed on bird subcutaneous tissue and fluids. Most of the known species have strongly female‐biased sex ratio, and it was hypothesized that this is caused by endosymbiotic bacteria. Previously, Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Foggie) and a high diversity of Wolbachia strains were detected in quill mites via targeted PCR screens. Here, we use an unbiased 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing approach to determine other bacteria that potentially impact quill mite biology.ResultsWe performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of 126 quill mite individuals from eleven species parasitizing twelve species (four families) of passeriform birds. In addition to Wolbachia, we found Spiroplasma as potential symbiont of quill mites. Consistently, high Spiroplasma titers were only found in individuals of two mite species associated with finches of the genus Carduelis, suggesting a history of horizontal transfers of Spiroplasma via the bird host. Furthermore, there was evidence for Spiroplasma negatively affecting Wolbachia titers. We found no evidence for the previously reported Anaplasma in quill mites, but detected sequences of high similarity to the potential pathogens Brucella and Bartonella at low abundances. Other amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) could be assigned to a diverse number of bacterial taxa, including several that were previously isolated from bird skin. Further, many frequently found ASVs were assigned to taxa that show a very broad distribution with no strong prior evidence for symbiotic association with animals. We interpret these findings as evidence for a scarcity of resident microbial associates (other than inherited symbionts) in quill mites.

The Distribution of Quill Mites (Betasyringophiloidus seiuri) among Flight Feathers of the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

Quill mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) are permanent ectoparasites that live inside the hollow quills of feathers and use their long chelicerae to pierce the quill wall to feed on living tissue of the quill follicle. Ovenbirds (Parulidae: Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus)) are host to the quill mite Betasyringophiloidus seiuri (Clark), which has been previously reported to infest only 5.1% of this host's tail feathers; however, this species has also been reported to inhabit the wing feathers of ovenbirds, but without any data on prevalence or intensity. We examined all 1,008 flight feathers from 21 dead ovenbirds from Canada for quill mites and calculated infestation parameters per feather location. Nine of the 21 birds were infested with mites (prevalence of 42.9%). Feathers with the highest prevalence were Primaries 1 and 2 and Secondaries 1, 2, and 5. Only 2 of the 9 infested birds had mites in their tail feathers; in each case, only a single feather was infested. Mean intensity was 28.4 mites/feather with a range of 2-135.6, and ∼88% of the adult mites were female. To determine if quill volume and quill wall thickness correlated with mite presence and abundance, we took quill measurements from the flight feathers of 3 additional ovenbirds. There was a strong positive correlation between quill volume and mean mite intensity. Feathers that had quill walls thicker in some areas than the mites' extended chelicerae had lower prevalences than did feathers with walls consistently thinner than the length of the chelicerae. We conclude that B. seiuri is much more likely to be found in wing than in tail feathers and that it has greater reproductive success in quills with both large volumes and thin walls; however, whether foundress mites preferentially choose to colonize these feathers requires more study.

Tanopicobia gen. nov., a new genus of quill mites, its phylogenetic placement in the subfamily Picobiinae (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) and picobiine relationships with avian hosts.

A new monotypic genus Tanopicobia gen. nov. is established for a new species Tanopicobia trachyphoni sp. nov., parasitizing Trachyphonus erythrocephalus Cabanis, 1878 (Piciformes: Lybiidae) from Tanzania. In phylogenetic analyses based on morphological data and constructed using the maximum parsimony approach, this taxon falls within the subfamily Picobiinae Johnston and Kethley, 1973 in the Neopicobia-species-group as closely related to the genus Pipicobia Glowska and Schmidt, 2014. Tanopicobia differs from Pipicobia by the following features in females: genital setae absent; setae ve are situated far and posteromedial to the level of setal bases vi; setae 3a are thick and knobbed. Additionally, a new generic key for subfamily Picobiinae is constructed and general host-parasite ecological and phylogenetic relationships are discussed. Picobiines are present in several lineages of neoavian birds, from basal Galloanseres to terminal Telluraves, which are infested by 70 (89.7% of all) species of these ectoparasites.

A NEW SYRINGOPHILID MITE (ACARIFORMES: SYRINGOPHILIDAE) FROM MANAKINS (PASSERIFORMES: PIPRIDAE) IN PANAMA

A new quill mite species, Syringophilopsis bochkovi sp. n. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae), is described from two species of manakins (Passeriformes: Pipridae), Corapipo altera (type host) and Manacus vitellinus collected in Panama. Females of the new species differ from those of morphologically similar S. nitens Skoracki et Dabert, 2001 by the following features: the total body length is 960–1,010 µm (vs. 1,265–1,285 µm in S. nitens); the dorsal shields (propodonotal, hysteronotal and pygidial) and coxal fields I–IV are apunctate (vs. all these sclerites are punctate); each lateral branch of the peritremes has 11 chambers (vs. 13 chambers); and the lengths of dorsal idiosomal setae d2 and e2 are 330–350 and 330–370 µm, respectively (vs. 390–400 and 420–460 µm). Syringophilopsis bochkovi represents the first record of the family Syringophilidae on passerines of the family Pipridae.

<p class="Body"><strong>Mites of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea) parasitizing waxbills of the genus <em>Estrilda</em> (Passeriformes: Estrildidae)</strong></p>

Quill mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) parasitizing waxbills of genus Estrilda Swainson (Aves: Passeriformes: Estrildidae) from the Sub-Saharan region are studied for the first time. Among them, a new species, Syringophiloidus estrildus sp. nov., is described and new host species for Neosyringophilopsis lonchurus Skoracki, 2008, Neoaulonastus oryzivorus (Skoracki, 2011) comb. nov., and Picobia lonchurae Skoracki et al., 2016 are recorded. In our study, we examined 120 specimens belonging to seven of the 16 (44%) species of the genus Estrilda. The prevalence of infestation by syringophilid species varied from 3.7 to 25%. The host and habitat (feather type) specificity are discussed.

Neoaulonastus sidorchukae, a new species of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) associated with the purple-rumped sunbird Leptocomazeylonica (Linnaeus) (Passeriformes: Nectariniidae) from Sri Lanka.

A new quill mite species, Neoaulonastus sidorchukae sp. nov. (Acariformes: Syringophilidae), is described from under-tail covert feathers of Leptocoma zeylonica (Linnaeus) (Passeriformes: Nectariniidae) from Sri Lanka. It is the second record of syringophilid mites of the genus Neoaulonastus parasitizing sunbirds.

Insight into the species diversity of the quill mite genus Betasyringophiloidus Skoracki, 2011 (Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) on the basis of the DNA barcodes

Betasyringophiloidus Skoracki, 2011 is a genus of quill mites (Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) that is believed to contain mono-, steno- and polyxenous parasites associated with a wide range of passerine birds (Passeriformes) across the world. In this work we applied the DNA-barcode marker (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene fragment, COI) to verify whether Betasyringophiloidus schoeniclus (Skoracki, 2002) and Betasyringophiloidus seiuri (Clark, 1964) are actual steno- and polyxenous species associated with the currently recognised host ranges, or their populations are highly host-specific, cryptic species. Our results revealed that a population living on the Tristram's bunting Emberiza tristrami Swinhoe (Emberizidae) in Russia, so far classified as B. schoeniclus, is a new cryptic species Betasyringophiloidus emberizae sp. nov. Both topologies of the neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees as well as genetic distance (11.9% Kimura 2-parameter distance) (K2P) support species status of the mite population from E. tristrami. The same data support previously established conspecific status of B. seiuri found on the ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus) (Parulidae) (type host) and the northern waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis (Gmelin) (Parulidae) and expand its range with a population found on a new host species Icterus pustulatus (Wagler) (Icteridae) with intraspecific K2P distance up to 1.9% and interpopulation distances ranging from 1.3 to 3.1%.

Quill mite infestation of rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta (Aves: Phasianidae) in relation to year and host age, sex, body condition, and density

A total of 1209 ptarmigan were examined for Mironovia lagopus, including 721 juvenile birds (ca. 3months old) and 488 adult birds (15months or older). A total of 88 birds or 7.3% (n = 1209, 95% cl 5.9-8.9%) were infested with M. lagopus. There was an age difference in prevalence of infection, and more adults (10.7%, n = 488, 95% cl 8.2-13.7%) than juveniles (5.0%, n = 721, 95% cl 3.6-6.8%) were infested. There was a significant age effect in the mean intensity index, and adult birds had more advanced infestations compared with juvenile birds. There were no significant changes in either the interannual prevalence of infection or the mean intensity index of infection. Of the feather types inspected, there was no age-related difference in selection of feathers, nor was there any preference of mites for any one of the inspected feather types. Body dispersants were all adult females. There was an age-related difference in mean intensities of infection of body dispersants; it was higher in adult birds. The methods used to determine presence or absence of M. lagopus were not 100% accurate especially for juvenile hosts, and this at least partly explains the difference in prevalence among age groups. There was no relationship between host body condition or host density and infection by M. lagopus.

First Record of Quill Mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae: Picobiinae) Living in the Quill Walls of Parrots.

Quill mites (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) are a family of about 400 ectoparasite species known to infest birds for over 140 yr. All previously identified quill mites occur in the calamus, a cavity of the bird feather, where they spent their entire life except for a short dispersion period. In this study, we report the first record of quill mites dwelling in the quill walls during their entire life cycle. In short, we found all of the different life stages of the species Lawrencipicobia poicephali (Skoracki & Dabert 2002) (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) in the quill wall in 33 host individuals of six different host species from many different locations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Hosts were collected over a time period spanning more than 70 yr. Lastly, we report six new avian hosts for this ectoparasite species.

Peristerophila nestoriae, a new species of quill mite of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) parasitizing New Zealand Kaka Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin) (Psittaciformes: Strigopidae)

ABSTRACTA new species of quill mite of the family Syringophilidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata), Peristerophila nestoriae sp. nov. from New Zealand Kaka, Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin) (Psittaciformes: Strigopidae) is described. This new species is morphologically similar to Peristerophila falcophila [Skoracki M, Hromada M, Kaszewska K, Unsoeld M. 2018. Peristerophila falcophila sp. nov., a new species and first record of quill mites (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) parasitizing birds of the order Falconiformes. Acta Parasitologica. 63:744–749. https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2018-0088], and differs from it as follow: the stylophore is 130–140 long (vs. 150–160 long); the propodonotal shield bear bases of setae ve, si, and c1 (vs. only ve and si on the propodonotal shield); fan-like setae p′ and p″ of legs III and IV with 11–13 tines (vs. 10 tines); the lengths of setae ag2 40–50 (vs. 55–70). Our finding is the first record of the presence of syringophilid mite on host of the family Strigopidae and first report of the member of Peristerophila on psittaciform birds. So far, the syringophilids mites have not been found in New Zealand.LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FB0C5B37-DF42-428C-8C81-8FA56EA67504