Journalartikel

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 2023

Seiten: 192-200

Zeitschrift: International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

Bandnummer: 21

ISSN: 2213-2244

Open Access Status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.06.001

Verlag: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Respiratory mites of the genera Orthohalarachne and Halarachne (Acari: Halarachnidae) are causative agents of nasopharyngeal/nasopulmonary acariasis in pinnipeds and sea otters. Until now, these endoparasitic mites were mainly diagnosed via necropsies and invasive procedures. So far, non-invasive diagnostic techniques have neither been developed nor applied in free-ranging pinnipeds. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the halarachnid mite infestation status of free-ranging "urban" South American sea lions Otaria flavescens in the city of Valdivia, Chile. Therefore, non-invasive sampling methods were used in the current study, e. g. by observation-based sampling of freshly expectorated nasal mucus in the animal environment. Further, collection devices were developed for target-oriented sampling of sneezed nasal mucus, including sterile petri dishes and stretched clingfilms mounted on telescopic rods. Applying these techniques, 26 individual sputum samples were collected. 11.5% of sputum samples proved positive for halarachnid larvae (in total, n = 7), which were morphologically identified as Orthohalarachne attenuata (n = 2) or Orthohalarachne diminuata (n = 5). In one of the individual sea lion mucus samples, both Orthohalarachne species were detected, thereby confirming a patent co-infestation in vivo. 16S rDNA-based molecular identification of individual Orthohalarachne spp. larvae confirmed morphological findings. For the first time, we here molecularly characterized Orthohalarachne spp. on the basis of three gene regions [18S, 28S and the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)]. Overall, current data include the successful application of non-invasive techniques to sample halarachnid mites from free-ranging synanthropic pinnipeds and contribute to the current knowledge on respiratory mites infesting South Amer-ican sea lions by combining morphological and molecular methods to overcome challenges in species identifi-cation. This study should further serve as baseline study and calls for more research on occurrence, biology and health implications of orthohalarachnosis in free-living as well as captive pinnipeds.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Rivera-Luna, H., Kniha, E., Munoz, P., Painean, J., Balfanz, F., Hering-Hagenbeck, S., et al. (2023) Non-invasive detection of Orthohalarachne attenuata (Banks, 1910) and Orthohalarachne diminuata (Doetschman, 1944) (Acari: Halarachnidae) in free-ranging synanthropic South American sea lions Otaria flavescens (Shaw, 1800), International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, 21, pp. 192-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.06.001

APA-Zitierstil: Rivera-Luna, H., Kniha, E., Munoz, P., Painean, J., Balfanz, F., Hering-Hagenbeck, S., Prosl, H., Walochnik, J., Taubert, A., Hermosilla, C., & Ebmer, D. (2023). Non-invasive detection of Orthohalarachne attenuata (Banks, 1910) and Orthohalarachne diminuata (Doetschman, 1944) (Acari: Halarachnidae) in free-ranging synanthropic South American sea lions Otaria flavescens (Shaw, 1800). International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife. 21, 192-200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.06.001