Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) as intermediate hosts of tapeworms of the Family Anoplocephalidae (Cestoda) and the transmission of Moniezia expansa cysticercoids in South Africa

Abstract

Six species of adult oribatid mites (Galumna racilis, Kilimabates pilosus, Kilimabates sp., Scheloribates fusifer, Muliercula ngoyensis and Zygoribatula undulata) and two immature stages belonging to the superfamilies Galumnoidea and Ceratozetoidea were isolated from a lawn (mixed Pennisetum and Cynodon spp.) at Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa. The mites were subsequently used in an infection trial using Moniezia expansa eggs. Tapeworm cysticercoids were recovered in G. racilis, K. pilosus, Kilimabates sp., S. fusifer, M. ngoyensis and Z. undulata, as well as in immatures of Ceratozetoidea. The percentage of infected mites was 7.6, 6.3, 16.4, 66.7, 57.1, 60.0 and 46.7%, respectively. Immatures of Galumnoidea did not become infected. The highest number of cysticercoids isolated from one individual was six from an adult S. fusifer.