Nikolay V. Anisimov

Rickettsia species are arthropod-hosted endosymbionts classified into phylogenetic and serological groups, heterogeneous concerning their ecologies. This study aims to screen ticks and mites deposited in the Acarological Collection at Center of Taxonomical Collections at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, for rickettsial occurrences, making available genetic data on hosts and bacteria. Endogenous mitochondrial markers for ticks and mitochondrial and nuclear genes for chiggers were sequenced for sample quality control and species identification. A total of 38 soft ticks belonging to the genus Ornithodoros (at least six putative species), 18 hard ticks belonging to the genus Amblyomma (7 spp) , and 52 chiggers belonging to genus Whartonia (2 spp) led to sequences. Polymerase Chain reactions for a Citrate Synthase gene fragment led to 21 sequences grouped in the phylogroups Bellii, Spotted Fever, and Transitional, with one sequence of Rickettsia obtained from Amblyomma dubitatum (identified as R. bellii ), eight sequences from Ornithodoros (classified in six gltA genotypes associated to the phylogroups Bellii, Spotted Fever and Transitional) and twelve associate to Whartonia pachywhartoni (three likely in the Spotted Fever and nine in the Transitional phylogroup). Considering the diversity of rickettsial occurrences in Ornithodoros , with four of the nine gltA genotypes detected only in O. fonsecai , a species known to bite humans, the medical relevance of Rickettsia associated with caves and bats needs to be further investigated.

Rickettsia species are arthropod-hosted endosymbionts with a wide range of ecologies, including induction of parthenogenesis, male-killing, and even plant pathogens with potential horizontal transmission through a plant host, although they attract greater attention for including many vertebrate pathogens. The genus is classified into phylogenetic and serological groups, heterogeneous concerning their ecologies. This study aims at screen ticks and mites deposited in Acarological Collection at Center of Taxonomical Collections at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil, for rickettsial occurrences, making available genetic data on hosts and bacteria. Endogenous mitochondrial markers for ticks and mitochondrial and nuclear genes for chiggers were sequenced for sample quality control and species identification. A total of 38 soft ticks belonging to the genus Ornithodoros (at least six putative species), 18 hard ticks belonging to the genus Amblyomma (7 spp), and 52 chiggers belonging to genus Whartonia (2 spp) led to sequences. Polymerase Chain reactions for a Citrate Synthase gene fragment led to 21 sequences grouped in the phylogroups Bellii, Spotted Fever, and Transitional, with one sequence of Rickettsia obtained from Amblyomma dubitatum (identified as R. bellii), eight sequences from Ornithodoros (classified in five or six strains associated to the phylogroups Belli, Spotted Fever and Transitional) and twelve associate to Whartonia pachywhartoni (three likely in the Spotted Fever and nine in the Transitional phylogroup). Considering the diversity of rickettsial occurrences in Ornithodoros , with four of the nine strains detected only in O. fonsecai, a species known to bite humans, the medical relevance of Rickettsia associated with caves and bats needs to be further investigated.

Here we report the ectoparasitic snake mite Ophionyssus natricis (Gervais, 1844) collected from the dice snake, Natrix tessellata (Laurenti, 1768) (Reptilia: Colubridae), in Mangystau, Kazakhstan. This is the first record of O. natricis for the country. We also consider some morphological features of the snake mite in the study area.

This paper records new locality data for six species of ectoparasitic mites and ticks from bats in Ethiopia – Spinturnix scotophili, Spinturnix faini, Spinturnix semilunaris, Chelanyssus aethiopicus, Ixodes simplex, Carios vespertilionis. Five new host-parasite associations are recorded – Spinturnix scotophili on Myotis bocagei; Spinturnix faini on Miniopterus cf. arenarius; Spinturnix semilunaris on Miniopterus arenarius; Ixodes simplex on Rhinolophus landeri; Carios vespertilionis on Mops midas.

Based on a literature review, as well as on our own data, 14 ixodid tick species belonging to 5 genera were registered for the lizard hosts of the genus Lacerta (L. agilis, L. media, and L. strigata) in the Caucasus and the adjacent territories: Haemaphysalis sulcata, Haem. punctata, Haem. parva, Haem. caucasica, Haem. concinna, Haem. inermis, Ixodes ricinus, I. redikorzevi, Dermacentor marginatus, D. reticulatus, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus bursa, Rh. rossicum, and Rh. turanicum. Tick species Haem. caucasica were recorded from Armenia for the first time. Our findings of Haem. punctata represent the first record of this species for Chechnya, Ingushetia (Russia), Armenia, and Azerbaijan. Most of the parasite species are associated with L. agilis (13) and L. strigata (12); L. media is a host of 6 tick species. Data on the infestation of Lacerta spp. by four tick species from our material (I. ricinus, Haem. punctata, Haem. caucasica, and Hyal. marginatum) are presented in the article. In addition, our article contains information on the range of infections associated with the above tick species. Castor bean tick I. ricinus (236 specimens), the most represented species in our collection, parasitizes all available terrestrial vertebrates including humans and can be vector of many various pathogens, so our study provides significant epidemiological information.

Three spinturnicid mite species (Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae) have been discovered in South Kazakhstan during expedition that took place in July of 2022: Spinturnix emarginata, S. myoti and S. nobleti. Two of them (S. emarginata and S. nobleti) are rare species and have been recorded in Kazakhstan for the first time. Measurements of collected specimens are given in the article.

The female, male and protonymph of Spinturnix otonycterisi Dundarova & Orlova, sp. nov. (Acari: Spinturnicidae) are described from specimens collected on the enigmatic and rarely captured vespertilionid bat Otonycteris leucophaea (Severcov, 1873) in South Kazakhstan. A key for the identification of the species of Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826 found in Kazakhstan is provided.

The family Macronyssidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) comprises mostly obligate blood-sucking ectoparasites of bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) and some other animals, such as small mammals, reptiles and birds. Here, we document and curate previously known data, and, based on our extensive survey, provide this article of bat-associated macronyssid mites of the Russian Federation. We record a total of 24 mite species belonging to 4 genera (Ichoronyssus, Macronyssus, Steatonyssus, and Cryptonyssus). Twenty-seven new host-parasite associations are reported. In addition, were provide data on five major Russian regions, for which bat-associated mite records were lacking.

While commercial poultry and captive birds are exposed to antimicrobials through direct medication, environmental pollution may result in contamination of wild birds. Fluoroquinolones are commonly used medications to treat severe avian bacterial infections; however, their adverse effects on birds remain understudied. Here, we examine toxicity of enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin during the egg incubation period using the chicken (Gallus Gallus domesticus) as a model avian species. Laboratory tests were based on eggs injected with 1, 10 and 100 μg of fluoroquinolones per 1 g of egg weight prior to the start of incubation and monitoring of chick blood biochemistry, reproductive parameters and heart rate during incubation. Eggs treated with fluoroquinolones displayed reduced hatchability due to embryonic mortality, particularly on day 13 of incubation. Total hatching success showed a similar pattern, with a significantly reduced hatchability in low and high exposure groups treated with both enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin. From 15 to 67% of chicks hatching in these groups exhibited joint deformities. Hatching one-day pre-term occurred with a prevalence of 31 to 70% in all groups treated with fluoroquinolones. Embryonic heart rate, measured on days 13 and 19 of incubation, increased in all enrofloxacin-treated groups and medium and high dose groups of marbofloxacin-treated eggs. Blood biochemistry of chicks sampled at hatch from medium dose groups showed hypoproteinaemia, decreased uric acid and increased triglycerides. Chicks from the enrofloxacin-treated group displayed mild hyperglycaemia and a two-fold rise in the blood urea nitrogen to uric acid ratio. Principal components analysis based on blood biochemistry clearly separated the control bird cluster from both enrofloxacin- and marbofloxacin-treated birds. Fluoroquinolones induce complex adverse effects on avian embryonic development, considerably reducing the performance of incubated eggs and hatching chicks. Cardiotoxicity, which quickens embryonic heart rate, meant that the total number of heart beats required for embryogenesis was achieved earlier than in the standard incubation period, resulting in pre-term hatching. Our data suggest that enrofloxacin has a higher potential for adverse effects than marbofloxacin. To conclude, care should be taken to prevent exposure of reproducing birds and their eggs to fluoroquinolones.