New findings of mites on small mammals in the Yungas Forest of Argentina

New mites in the Argentine Yungas

Abstract

In Argentina, studies on the systematics of parasitic mites on small mammals have been limited mainly to rodent mites from the Pampas region, followed by some studies in the northeastern region.  The mites collected in the province of Jujuy, particularly in the locality of Las Capillas, have not been previously analyzed.  The objective of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of the faunal composition of mites parasitizing small mammals in the Yungas eco-region, Jujuy province, Argentina.  Specimens of mites deposited in the “Colección de Mamíferos Anexo Lillo, Dra. Analía G. Autino (CMLA)”, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, from bats and rodents were examined.  The specimens were fixed in 70 % alcohol and prepared following conventional techniques for taxonomic identification.  The specimens were compared to the original descriptions of the species and to specimens in the CMLA.  A total of 153 mites of the order Mesostigmata were analyzed, resulting in the identification of 11 species, eight genera, and three families.  Three species parasitized the order Chiroptera and eight parasitized the order Rodentia.  A total of 152 mites were identified in the adult stage, including 14 males and 138 females, and one protonymphal stage.  All species represent new records for the locality Las Capillas, except Gigantolaelaps gilmorei.  The following species are reported for the first time for the Jujuy Province: Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Laelaps mazzai, Mysolaelaps microspinosus, Eulaelaps stabularis, Chiroptonyssus robustipes, Macronyssus crosbyi  and Periglischrus iheringi, as well as the genera Androlaelaps, Mysolaelaps, Eulaelaps, Chiroptonyssus, Macronyssus and Periglischrus and the families Macronyssidae and Spinturnicidae.  Twenty mite-host associations were recognized for Las Capillas.  The results increase the inventory of the acarological fauna of small mammals in the northwestern Argentina and particularly in the Yungas of the province of Jujuy, which constitutes an area of influence of bacterial pathogens.