Mite secretions from three traditional mite-ripened cheese types: are ripened French cheeses flavored by the mites (Acari: Astigmata)?

The opisthonotal glands of Astigmata contain monoterpenes, aromatics, aliphatics, and other volatile compounds; some of these compounds act as pheromones and have antifungal effects. This study analyzed volatile compounds secreted by mites on three traditional mite-ripened cheeses from producers (Milbenkäse from Germany, Mimolette and Artisou from France). The mites obtained from various traditional ripened French cheeses (Mimolette, Laguiole, Salers, and Cantal vieux) from stores were also investigated. The gas chromatography (GC) profiles of all their hexane extracts, except the Cantal vieux one, showed almost no differences and were identical to that of Tyrolichus casei Oudemans except for trace components. Based on the GC results, the mites of Cantal vieux were identified as Acarus siro L. For the Artisou and Cantal vieux, not studied before, the influence of the mite secretions on their characteristics was investigated by analyzing the headspace volatiles from the cheeses. According to the results, neral secreted from T. casei is the main compound responsible for the lemon-like flavor of the mite-ripened cheeses, which is, hence, due to a component of the mite secretions rather than the fermentation of the cheese itself. Moreover, the compounds secreted by the mites are not directly added to the cheese through ripening as they were not detected in the odors of the Artisou and Cantal vieux after the mites were removed. However, the consumers of the Artisou usually eat also the cheese rind, and thus, can enjoy its lemon-like flavor fully.

Do 'cheese factory-specific' mites (Acari: Astigmata) exist in the cheese-ripening cabinet?

To determine whether the mites used in the ripening process of traditional cheeses are genetically unique to cheese factories, we investigated mites from three types of traditional cheeses, that use mites in the ripening process: 'Würchwitzer Milbenkäse' from Germany and 'Mimolette' and 'Artisou' from France. In addition, traditional ripened cheeses were purchased from cheese specialty stores in France (Mimolette) and Japan ('Laguiole' from France) as well as stores in temporary markets in France ('Salers' and 'Cantal vieux') and the mites obtained from those cheeses were analyzed in this study. Partial sequences of the 28S rRNA gene (28S) were determined and used to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree. Tyrolichus casei, the dominant cheese mite species from the ripening cabinets of three traditional cheese producers and two cheese specialty stores in France and Japan, had identical partial 28S sequences. All specimens from Cantal vieux from a store in the temporary market in France had an identical sequence with Acarus siro and Acarus immobilis in the determined region of the 28S sequences. Mite individuals from Salers from a store in the temporary markets in France shared the same haplotype as Acotyledon paradoxa. For the T. casei individuals from five different localities (19 individuals in total), the nuclear loci were obtained using MIG-seq. More than several thousand genomic regions are amplified simultaneously by multiplex PCR, and targeting regions surrounded by inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) in the genome were sequenced using the MiSeq system (Illumina). SNPs extracted from this genome-wide analysis showed that no genetic structure existed in the populations from any region. Among the five samples from the three regions, which were more than 500 km apart and from completely different environments, the mites had no geographic bias, but all mite individuals were genetically nearly identical. Thus, we found no evidence to support the existence of 'cheese factory-specific' T. casei mites, at least in terms of genetic analysis.

Comprehensive phylogeny of acariform mites (Acariformes) provides insights on the origin of the four-legged mites (Eriophyoidea), a long branch.

Eriophyoid, or four-legged mites, represent a large and ancient radiation of exclusively phytophagous organisms known from the Triassic (230 Mya). Hypothesizing phylogenetic relatedness of Eriophyoidea among mites is a major challenge due to the absence of unambiguous morphological synapomorphies, resulting in ten published hypotheses placing eriophyoids in various places in the acariform tree of life. Here we test the evolutionary relationships of eriophyoids using six genes and a representative taxonomic sampling of acariform mites. The total evidence analysis places eriophyoids as the sister group of the deep soil-dwelling, vermiform family Nematalycidae (Endeostigmata). This arrangement was supported by the rDNA and CO1 partitions. In contrast, the nuclear protein partition (genes EF1-α, SRP54, HSP70) suggests that Eriophyoidea is sister to a lineage including Tydeidae, Ereynetidae, and Eupodidae (Eupodina: Trombidiformes). On both of these alternative topologies, eriophyoids appear as a long branch, probably involving the loss of basal diversity in early evolution. We analyze this result by using phylogenetically explicit hypothesis testing, investigating the phylogenetic signal from individual genes and rDNA stem and loop regions, and removing long branches and rogue taxa. Regardless of the two alternative placements, (i) the cheliceral morphology of eriophyoids, one of the traits deemed phylogenetically important, was likely derived directly from the plesiomorphic acariform chelicerae rather than from the modified chelicerae of some trombidiform lineages with a reduced fixed digit; and (ii) two potential synapomorphies of Eriophyoidea+Raphignathina (Trombidiformes) related to the reduction of genital papillae and to the terminal position of PS segment can be dismissed as result of convergent evolution. Our analyses substantially narrow the remaining available hypotheses on eriophyoid relationships and provide insights on the early evolution of acariform mites.

Convergent and unidirectional evolution of extremely long aedeagi in the largest feather mite genus, Proctophyllodes (Acari: Proctophyllodidae): Evidence from comparative molecular and morphological phylogenetics.

Proctophyllodid feather mites (400+ species) are permanent (full-time) symbionts commonly occurring on passerine birds. Phenotypic evolution of these mites appears to be greatly influenced by characters related to reproduction (>87.5% of a total of 32 taxonomically important discrete characters) and male genitalic characters (21.9%). Because sexual selection could the major evolutionary driver in this system, we test the theoretical expectation that genitalic or sexually dimorphic characters should evolve more rapidly and divergently then other characters. We inferred a time-calibrated molecular phylogeny (6 genes, 8571 nt aligned, no missing data) for 133 taxa of proctophyllodid mites and 40 outgroups. Comparisons of the average number of character state changes inferred on 10,696 Bayesian stationary trees indicate that male genitalic or sexually dimorphic characters do not evolve significantly faster than other characters (p=0.537 and p=0.819, respectively). However, among the male genitalic characters, a trait related to the relative length of the aedeagus experienced extremely fast rates of evolution and was detected as a statistical outlier. In this character, the transitions between short, long, and several intermediate states occurred in both directions. In contrast, the evolution of extremely long aedeagi (nearly as long as the body) occurred unidirectionally and irreversibly. This surprising result may be due to constraints imposed by the female spermathecal canal, which, in species where males have extremely long aedeagi, is also very long and may impede pumping sperm by short aedeagi. In proctophyllodid mites, extremely long aedeagi evolved independently five times in five different monophyletic lineages. Several of these lineages were lumped together by taxonomists to form easy-to-distinguish but apparently artificial species-groups. Male genitalic characters, thus, can introduce false synapomorphies that could affect morphology-based phylogenetic inference. For the most species-rich genus, Proctophyllodes, we develop a predictive classification of species-groups that reconciles molecular and morphological data.

Phylogenetic position of the house dust mite subfamily Guatemalichinae (Acariformes: Pyroglyphidae) based on integrated molecular and morphological analyses and different measures of support.

Based on multilocus phylogenetic analyses (18S, 28S, EF1-α, SRP54, HSP70, CO1, 10 860 nt aligned), we show that the house dust mite subfamily Guatemalichinae is nested within non-onychalgine pyroglyphid mites and forms the sister group to the genus Sturnophagoides (bootstrap support 100, posterior probability 1.0). Because high bootstrap support values may be misleading in the presence of incongruence, we evaluate robustness of the Guatemalichinae+Sturnophagoides clade using: (1) internode certainty indices to estimate the frequency of conflicting bipartitions in maximum-likelihood bootstrap trees, (ii) consensus networks to investigate conflict among different loci; and (iii) statistical hypothesis testing based on information theory, both multi-scale and regular bootstrap. Results suggest that this grouping is very well supported given the data. The molecular analyses were integrated with detailed morphological study using scanning electron and light microscopy. We suggest that the subfamilial status of Guatemalichinae should be reconsidered, and this lineage should be placed within the subfamily Dermatophagoidinae. The latter subfamily is currently accepted in the literature as a monophyletic group but was here inferred as paraphyletic and was not supported by any morphological synapomorphy. The paraphyly involved the most species-rich and medically important genus, Dermatophagoides. Our findings suggest the need for a comprehensive revision of the higher-level relationships of pyroglyphid house dust mites using both DNA sequences and morphology coupled with a broad taxonomic sampling.

Origin of host-parasite associations of Marsupialges misonnei (Acariformes: Psoroptidae)-a parasitological detective story.

Host associations of permanent ectoparasitic mite Marsupialges misonnei Fain, 1963 (Acariformes: Psoroptidae: Marsupialginae) are analyzed. This species was first recorded from an ethanol-preserved museum specimen of Caluromys philander (Linnaeus, 1758) (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) originating from French Guiana. We discovered specimens of M. misonnei from both species known in the carnivore genus Nasua (Carnivora: Procyonidae): N. narica (Linnaeus, 1766) from Panama (collected in the field) and N. nasua (Linnaeus, 1766) from Brazil (collected from dry museum specimen). Two alternative hypotheses about an initial host of this mite (bare-tailed woody opossum or coatis) are discussed. We argue that M. misonnei was originally parasitic on Nasua spp. and occasionally contaminated C. philander from these hosts in the collecting process.

Redescription of Myianoetus muscarum (Acari: Histiostomatidae) Associated with Human Remains in Texas, USA, with Designation of a Neotype from Western Europe.

Mites are receiving renewed interest in forensic entomology, but the identification of many species associated with carrion and human remains is problematic. We review the taxonomy of the mite species currently known as Myianoetus muscarum (L., 1758) and designate a neotype from the collection of Jean Cooreman in Brussels, Belgium. The species is redescribed based on Cooreman's specimens, specimens previously reported from California and Ontario, Canada, and a large series of new specimens collected from a human corpse in Texas. The species is compared with and distinguished from other species of Myianoetus.

Cystoidosoma hermaphroditus sp. n., the first representative of the quill mite family Ascouracaridae (Acari: Astigmata: Pterolichoidea) from an owl (Aves: Strigiformes).

The mite family Ascouracaridae Gaud et Atyeo, 1976 contains large-sized mites (mostly > 1 mm) which live inside the quills of birds of several orders. To date, no representative of this family has been found associated with the order Strigiformes (owls). In this paper, a new species of this family, Cystoidosoma hermaphroditus sp. n., is described from the tropical screech owl, Megascops choliba (Vieillot) (Aves: Strigiformes) from Brazil. This species is unique in having an external spermaduct, a primary duct and a rudimentary bursa copulatrix present in males. This is the first astigmatan feather mite described from the order Strigiformes in this country. A key to adults of the genus Cystoidosoma Gaud et Atyeo, 1976 of the world is presented.

Review and resolution of some nomenclatural issues regarding the genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae), scab-mites of domestic and wild mammals.

Some classifications recognize a number of species in the scab-mite genus, Psoroptes, mites that are of considerable importance in livestock production and veterinary medicine. However, modern studies suggest that populations from some host species are not morphologically or genetically distinct, creating taxonomic confusion with older names, which treated mites from different hosts as separate species. We review the taxonomy and nomenclature of the genus and the two oldest binomens, most recently known as Psoroptes ovis and Psoroptes equi. Prior authors have attributed these names to various authorities, with most attributing both names to Hering (Nova Acta Phys-Med Acad Caesar Leopold-Carol Nat Curios 18(2):573-624, 1838). In particular, the priority between these names was recently a point of contention, with P. ovis being treated as junior synonym of P. equi. A review of all relevant nineteenth and twentieth century publications indicates, however, that these binomens should be cited as P. ovis (Viborg in Veterinair-Selskabets Skrifter 2:139-152, 1813) and P. equi (Raspail in Bull gener Theraput Med Chir 7:169-184, 1834), with the former having priority over the latter assuming their conspecificity. We also clarify attribution of the authorship and the type species of the genus Psoroptes.

Mites of the genus Trichorhynchiella (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae): A new example of ovoviviparity in acariform mites.

The small genus Trichorhynchiella Fain, 1995, including two species of permanent bird ectoparasites belonging to the family Harpirhynchidae (Acariformes: Cheyletoidea), is revised. The generic diagnosis is emended. The type species, Trichorhynchiella paddae Fain, 1995 from Lonchura oryzivora (L, 1758) (Passeriformes: Estrildidae) from Southeast Asia and Trichorhynchiella phleocryptes sp. n. from Phleocryptes melanops (Viellot, 1817) (Passeriformes: Furnariidae) from Argentina are redescribed and described, respectively. The phenomenon of ovoviviparity inherent to females of this genus is briefly discussed. In almost immobile physogastric females of Trichorhynchiella, ovoviviparity eliminates necessity to attach eggs to the host body.

New species of the feather mite family Proctophyllodidae (Acariformes: Astigmata) from two species of mockingbirds (Passeriformes: Mimidae) in eastern North America.

Four new species of the feather mite family Proctophyllodidae are described from two species of the family Mimidae (Passeriformes): Proctophyllodes apanaskevichi sp. n. (Proctophyllodinae) and Amerodectes dumetellae sp. n. (Pterodectinae) from the Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis (L., 1766), and Proctophyllodes gallowayi sp. n. (Proctophyllodinae) and Metapterodectes toxostomae sp. n. (Pterodectinae) from the Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum (L., 1758). A. dumetellae and M. toxostomae represent the first records of mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae on mockingbirds.

A review of mites of the subfamily Picobiinae Johnston & Kethley, 1973 (Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) from North American birds.

The fauna of ectoparasitic mites of the subfamily Picobiinae (Acari: Syringophilidae) associated with birds of the North America is revised. A new genus, Charadriineopicobia n. g. is proposed for two quill mite species, Ch. calidris n. sp. from Calidris alba (Pallas) (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) and Ch. leucophaeus (Skoracki, Hendricks & Spicer, 2010) n. comb. from Leucophaeus atricilla Linnaeus (Charadriiformes: Laridae). The new genus differs from the closely related Neopicobia Skoracki, 2011 by the presence of one pair of setae in pseudanal series and by clearly discernible chambers in each lateral branch of the peritremes, in both sexes. Additionally, a new species of Picobia Haller, 1878, P. hylocichlae n. sp., parasitising Hylocichla mustelina (Gmelin) (Passeriformes: Turdidae), is described. The species of picobiine mites presently recorded from North America are summarised.

Mites of the subfamily Harpirhynchinae (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae) from North American birds.

Three new harpirhynchid species of the subfamily Harpirhynchinae (Acariformes: Harpirhynchidae) are described from North American birds: Harpyrhynchoides aegolius sp. n. from Aegolius acadicus (Strigiformes: Strigidae), Harpyrhynchoides accipiter sp. n. from Accipiter striatus (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae), and Neharpyrhynchus icterus sp. n. from Icterus galbula (Passeriformes: Icteridae). Three species are recorded from new hosts from North America for the first time: Harpyrhynchoides tracheatus (Fritsch, 1954) from Buteo lineatus (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae), Harpyrhynchoides pectinifer (Lawrence, 1959) from Colaptes auratus (Piciformes: Picidae), and Harpyrhynchoides rubeculinus (Cerný & Sixl, 1971) from Catharus ustulatus (Passeriformes: Turdidae). Neharpyrhynchoides novoplumaris (Moss et al., 1968) previously recorded from Cardinalis cardinalis (Passeriformes: Cardinalidae) from the United States is recollected from this host.

Revision of the family Listropsoralgidae Fain, 1965 (Acariformes: Sarcoptoidea)-skin parasites of marsupials and rodents.

The family Listropsoralgidae Fain, 1965 (Acariformes: Sarcoptoidea) is represented by the permanent skin ectoparasites associated with the South American and Australian marsupials (12 species) and the South American rodents of the family Echimyidae (1 species). The phylogenetic relationships of these mites (12 ingroup and 2 outgroup species) are reconstructed on the basis of the maximum parsimony (MP) and Bayesian analyses (BA) of 76 morphological characters. MP analysis confirmed monophyly of the listropsoralgid genera, the strict consensus of 18 trees generated by MP has the following pattern: Petauralges (Listropsoralgoides, Didelphialges, Listropsoralges) with poor resolution among species of the genus Listropsoralges. The same tree was generated by BA. Both successive and implied weighting strategies resulted in 7 MP trees: Petauralges (Listropsoralgoides (Didelphialges (Listropsoralges))). The relationships between species of the genus Listropsoralges received the poorest resolution: L. caenolestes (L. monodelphis, L. vossi, L. faini, L. brevisetosa (L. thylamys (L. marmosa-L. caluromys))). The host-parasite relationships of listropsoralgids are briefly discussed. The family Listropsoralgidae is taxonomically revised and to date includes 13 species in 4 genera. Six species and one genus are described as new: Listropsoralges brevisetosus sp. n. from Marmosa murina (Didelphimorphia: Didelphidae) from Peru, Listropsoralges similis sp. n. from Caluromys derbianus (Didelphidae) from Panama, Listropsoralges thylamys sp. n. from Thylamys venustus (Didelphidae) from Bolivia, Listropsoralges vossi sp. n. from Monodelphis domestica (Didelphidae) from Brazil, Listropsoralges caenolestes sp. n. from Caenolestes fuliginosus (Paucituberculata: Caenolestidae) from Ecuador, and Didelphialges metachirus gen. n., sp. n. from Metachirus nudicaudatus (Didelphidae) from Peru. The female of Listropsoralges faini Bochkov and Wauthy, 2009 is described for the first time.

Horizontal transmission maintains host specificity and codiversification of symbionts in a brood parasitic host.

In host-symbiont systems, interspecific transmissions create opportunities for host switches, potentially leading to cophylogenetic incongruence. In contrast, conspecific transmissions often result in high host specificity and congruent cophylogenies. In most bird-feather mite systems, conspecific transmission is considered dominant, while interspecific transmission is supposedly rare. However, while mites typically maintain high host specificity, incongruent cophylogenies are common. To explain this conundrum, we quantify the magnitude of conspecific vs. interspecific transmission in the brood parasitic shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). M. bonariensis lacks parental care, allowing the assessment of the role of horizontal transmission alone in maintaining host specificity. We found that despite frequent interspecific interactions via foster parental care, mite species dispersing via conspecific horizontal contacts are three times more likely to colonize M. bonariensis than mites transmitted vertically via foster parents. The results highlight the previously underappreciated rate of transmission via horizontal contacts in maintaining host specificity on a microevolutionary scale. On a macroevolutionary scale, however, host switches were estimated to have occurred as frequently as codivergences. This suggests that macroevolutionary patterns resulting from rare events cannot be easily generalized from short-term evolutionary trends.

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.

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.

Review of the genera Berlesia Canestrini, 1884, and Katydiseius Fain amp; Lukoschus, 1983, the subfamily Katydiseiinae Fain amp; Lukoschus, 1983, and their family group relationships (Acari: Mesostigmata: Gamasina), with description of three new species parasitic on gryllacridid crickets (Orthoptera).

The gamasine genus Berlesia Canestrini, 1884, is revived and further diagnosed, based on descriptions of adult females, males and nymphs of three new species (B. hospitabilis sp. nov., B. multisetosa sp. nov., B. vorontsovi sp. nov.) ectoparasitic on raspy crickets of three genera of Gryllacrididae (Ensifera) from Australia and the Philippines. A tight sister relationship of Berlesia with the monobasic genus Katydiseius Fain Lukoschus, 1983, known only from a pseudophylline katydid in Malaysia, is proposed. The subfamily Katydiseiinae Fain Lukoschus, 1983 (previously included in the family Otopheidomenidae in the superfamily Phytoseioidea) is redefined to include only those two genera, and moved to the dermanyssoid family Laelapidae, while its previously other monobasic genus, Eickwortius Zhang, 1995, is retained tentatively in the family Otopheidomenidae. Among other taxa relevant to Katydiseiinae reviewed here, Berlesia cultrigera Berlese, 1910a is transferred to the genus Orthopteroseius Mo, 1996, at present Otopheidomenidae, as Orthopteroseius cultrigerum (Berlese) comb. nov., and Berlesia nuda Berlese, 1910b is transferred to the genus Prasadiseius Wainstein, 1972, at present Otopheidomenidae, as Prasadiseius nudum (Berlese) comb. nov. A key to the two genera and five species recognized as belonging in Katydiseiinae is presented. Notable morphological traits of Berlesia, including only deutonymphs equipped with well-developed claws and males with dimorphically more elongated salivary stylets, are discussed. The one known life cycle of a species of Berlesia, B. hospitabilis sp. nov., includes protonymphipary, followed by a fully functioning deutonymph, and male copulation with pharate females-traits, rarely or not known among gamasine mite associates of invertebrates. The possible significance of elongate spermatodactyls and male reduced feeding are explored.

Improved tRNA prediction in the American house dust mite reveals widespread occurrence of extremely short minimal tRNAs in acariform mites.

BACKGROUND: Atypical tRNAs are functional minimal tRNAs, lacking either the D- or T-arm. They are significantly shorter than typical cloverleaf tRNAs. Widespread occurrence of atypical tRNAs was first demonstrated for secernentean nematodes and later in various arachnids. Evidence started to accumulate that tRNAs of certain acariform mites are even shorter than the minimal tRNAs of nematodes, raising the possibility that tRNAs lacking both D- and T-arms might exist in these organisms. The presence of cloverleaf tRNAs in acariform mites, particularly in the house dust mite genus Dermatophagoides, is still disputed. RESULTS: Mitochondrial tRNAs of Dermatophagoides farinae are minimal, atypical tRNAs lacking either the T- or D-arm. The size (49-62, 54.4 +/- 2.86 nt) is significantly (p = 0.019) smaller than in Caenorhabditis elegans (53-63, 56.3 +/- 2.30 nt), a model minimal tRNA taxon. The shortest tRNA (49 nt) in Dermatophagoides is approaching the length of the shortest known tRNAs (45-49 nt) described in other acariform mites. The D-arm is absent in these tRNAs, and the inferred T-stem is small (2-3 bp) and thermodynamically unstable, suggesting that it may not exist in reality. The discriminator nucleotide is probably not encoded and is added postranscriptionally in many Dermatophagoides tRNAs. CONCLUSIONS: Mitochondrial tRNAs of acariform mites are largely atypical, non-cloverleaf tRNAs. Among them, the shortest known tRNAs with no D-arm and a short and unstable T-arm can be inferred. While our study confirmed seven tRNAs in Dermatophagoides by limited EST data, further experimental evidence is needed to demonstrate extremely small and unusual tRNAs in acariform mites.

Astigmatid mites (Acari: Sarcoptiformes) of forensic interest.

This paper reviews the occurrence of mites of the infraorder Astigmata in situations involving the legal system, particularly in the area of medicocriminal entomology. Species in the families Acaridae, Lardoglyphidae and Histiostomatidae are encountered in stored food products and in vertebrate carrion, including human remains. Some of these species are incidentals, whereas others are obligate necrophages. Phoretic associations between these mites and insects allows for rapid dispersal and colonization of such patchy resources.