Demodex phocidi (Acariformes: Demodecidae) from Phoca vitulina (Carnivora: Phocidae) – the second observation in the world and a supplement to the species description

Abstract The present study describes a finding of the demodecid mite Demodex phocidi in the seal Phoca vitulina in the Baltic Sea. This is the first identification in Europe and the second in the world. This is also the first observation of the Demodecidae family in the pinnipeds outside North Ameri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies
Main Authors: Izdebska, Joanna N., Rolbiecki, Leszek, Cierocka, Karolina, Pawliczka, Iwona
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2020-0005
https://www.degruyter.com/view/journals/ohs/49/1/article-p49.xml
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ohs-2020-0005/xml
https://www.sciendo.com/pdf/10.1515/ohs-2020-0005
Description
Summary:Abstract The present study describes a finding of the demodecid mite Demodex phocidi in the seal Phoca vitulina in the Baltic Sea. This is the first identification in Europe and the second in the world. This is also the first observation of the Demodecidae family in the pinnipeds outside North America. A high density of demodecid mites was observed in the skin of the examined seal, but no symptoms of parasitosis were observed. Our findings also supplement the taxonomic description and morphometry of D. phocidi .