Noteworthy records of the ticks Ornithodoros rostratus and Amblyomma sculptum parasitizing Pteronura brasiliensis in the central-western region of Brazil, with pathogen investigation notes.

A male of Pteronura brasiliensis (Carnivora: Mustelidae) was found dead on the banks of the Rio Negro, in the Pantanal wetlands of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Aquidauana municipality. Two ticks found attached to its skin were morphologically identified as a second-instar nymph of Ornithodoros rostratus (Argasidae) and a male of Amblyomma sculptum (Ixodidae). In order to complement the morphological identification, these tick specimens were subjected to DNA extraction, and tested using PCR assays to confirm the molecular identity the specimens. Also, the tick DNA samples were tested and were negative in the PCR assays for all the pathogens tested. We also examined 30 batches, consisting of 174 individuals of O. rostratus deposited in the Acari Collection of the Butantan Institute, and we found material from four Brazilian states, including one batch containing 2 males and 2 females from Aquidauana, of Mato Grosso do Sul state, collected from the soil. This was therefore the first record of O. rostratus parasitizing P. brasiliensis and the first locality record (Aquidauana). Likewise, A. sculptum is commonly found in the Pantanal and is reported here for the second time parasitizing the giant otter, which is a host little studied regarding the ectoparasites.

A new species of Eutrombicula Ewing, 1938 (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) from the Galápagos Islands, with a checklist of Ecuadorian chiggers.

Few studies have been carried out on the Ecuadorian chigger fauna. In this study, we are describing a new species of Eutrombicula from the Galápagos Islands. Also, we provide an updated checklist of Ecuadorian and Galápagos Islands chiggers, including a new host association and locality record for Eutrombicula nerudai Stekolnikov and González-Acuña.

Bacterial pathogens' screening in Brazilian chigger mites (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae), with the first report of 'Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi'-like in avian-associated chiggers.

Chiggers are larval ectoparasites of the Trombiculidae that can transmit pathogens to their hosts. In this study, chiggers collected from birds in Brazil were morphologically identified as Blankaartia sinnamaryi, Eutrombicula batatas, Eutrombicula daemoni, Eutrombicula goeldii, Eutrombicula tinami, and Parasecia gilbertoi. For these specimens, a beginning attempt at molecular identification were also provided, as well as, were genetically screened to detect bacterial pathogens. The species B. sinnamaryi and E. tinami were positive for Rickettsia felis-like and 'Candidatus Rickettsia colombianensi'-like, respectively. For the other agents (Anaplasmataceae, Borrelia spp. and Orientia tsutsugamushi), the tests were negative. This is the first report of 'Ca. R. colombianensi'-like and the second record of R. felis-like in chigger collected on birds from Brazil.

A New Species of Elianella Vercammen-Grandjean (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) from the Insular Equatorial Guinea with a Key to the Species into this Genus.

PURPOSE: The African continent has 452 chiggers (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) in 61 genera. One of these, Elianella Vercammen-Grandjean, 1956, has only two species known for Africa. The objective of the present study is to describe a new species for Equatorial Guinea, with the aim of increasing knowledge so scarce for Africa. METHODS: In this study, we provide drawings, measurements and microscopy images on a Microscope Zeiss for the new species described below. Also, this type of the new species is deposited in the USNM. RESULTS: We describe a new species of Elianella collected parasitizing the Bioko Forest Shrew, Sylvisorex isabellae Heim de Balsac (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from the insular Equatorial Guinea. Also, we are providing a key for the three species of Elianella. CONCLUSION: Finally, we are contributing to the knowledge of African species, due the fact this new species is the first chigger recorded to the Equatorial Guinea, on the west coast of Central Africa.

A New Genus and Species of Chiggers (Trombidiformes: Leeuwenhoekiidae) From Peru.

South American chiggers have historically been poorly studied, and this has continued into present times. Of the 33 genera in the family Leeuwenhoekiidae Womersley, only Odontacarus Ewing and Sasacarus Brennan & Jones have been reported in Peru. Here, we describe a new genus, Peruacarus n. gen., and a new species, Peruacarus anthurium n. sp., parasitizing Koford's grass mouse, Akodon kofordi Myers & Patton, in Peru.

New Species of Chiggers (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae) From the Conservation Unit Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões, Brazil.

The Piauí State, Brazil, has never had its chigger fauna recorded. In this study, we examined chiggers collected on marsupials, rodents, and lizards from the conservation unit Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões (PNSC). Herein we describe four new species, Paraguacarus klompenin. sp., Neoschoengastia ochoain. sp., Quadraseta welbournin. sp., and Susa bauchanin. sp. Furthermore, an additional seven species are reported: Eutrombicula alfreddugesi (Oudemans, 1910), Microtrombicula brachytrichiaBrennan, 1971, Microtrombicula rhipidomysiGoff, Whitaker and Dietz, 1983, Parascoschoengastia aemulata (Brennan and Jones, 1964), Parasecia validaBrennan, 1969, Pseudochoengastia petrolinensis Jacinavicius, Bassini-Silva and Barros-Battesti 2019, and Quadraseta flochi (Brennan and Jones, 1960). This is the first report of chiggers in Piauí State, which includes one of the most biodiverse areas in the Caatinga biome and is of particular importance to conservation. The genera Paraguacarus Goff and Whitaker, 1984 and Susa Audy and Nadcharam, 1960 are reported here for the first time to Brazil.

Redescription of Brennanacarus annereauxi (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) With New Records for Uruguay.

Brennanacarus annereauxi (Brennan and Yunker, 1969) was described from Venezuela parasitizing the greater spear-nosed bat. The monotypic genus Brennanacarus Goff, Yunker and Wheeler, 1987 is a replacement name for Nasicola Brennan and Yunker, 1969, which was preoccupied by Nasicola Yamaguti, 1968. Here, we redescribe the genus Brennanacarus and the type species B. annereauxi. Also, this is the first record of this species, as well as the second record of any chigger, for Uruguay.

First Case Report of Mange in Molossus molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) Caused by Notoedres (Notoedres) yunkeri (Sarcoptiformes: Sarcoptidae) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

There are many records of the family Sarcoptidae in bats. The species Notoedres (Notoedres) yunkeri has been reported only once, parasitizing a molossid bat in Panama. In the present study, we expand the occurrence of the species to Brazil.

Description of Leptus (Leptus) haitlingeri n. sp. (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae), parasitising horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae), and a key to the larvae of Leptus spp. in Brazil.

The genus Leptus Latreille, 1796 (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) is represented by more than 250 species worldwide, and the larval stages of these mites are ectoparasites of many arthropod orders. In Brazil, there are 12 species of Leptus, some of which have been reported parasitising representatives of the orders Opiliones, Araneae, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera and Diptera. This paper describes Leptus (Leptus) haitlingeri n. sp. collected from horse flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from L. (L.) adaminae Haitlinger, 2004 and L. (L.) fozicus Haitlinger, 2004 by the presence of 4 branched setae on palptarsus (vs 2 branched setae). A key to the larvae of Leptus spp. in Brazil is provided.

Ectoparasites of the critically endangered insular cavy, Cavia intermedia (Rodentia: Caviidae), southern Brazil.

Cavia intermedia is a rodent species critically endangered and is found only on a 10 hectare island off the southern Brazilian coast. To identify the ectoparasites of C. intermedia, 27 specimens (14 males and 13 females), representing approximately 65% of the estimated total population, were captured and examined. A total of 1336 chewing lice of two species were collected: Gliricola lindolphoi (Amblycera: Gyropidae) and Trimenopon hispidum (Amblycera: Trimenoponidae). In addition, chiggers Arisocerus hertigi (Acari: Trombiculidae) and Eutrombicula sp. (Acari: Trombiculidae) were collected from the ears of all captured animals. This low species richness compared to those for other Cavia species is expected for island mammals. Although the results presented here are not conclusive about the relationship between C. intermedia and ectoparasites, this low species richness found might be reflected in a low level of investment by the hosts in the basal immune defense, since investments in white blood cell production by mammals are influenced by the diversity of parasites in the environment. Additionally, considering that it might result in host vulnerability to other parasites that might be introduced through exotic or migratory host species, the monitoring of C. intermedia, including parasitological and immunological assessments, is recommended as a key component of conservation efforts.