David W Ramilo1, Pedro Costa2, Alexandr A Stekolnikov3, João Martinho Cláudio4, Ana Mafalda Lourenço1, Isabel Pereira da Fonseca5, Luis Cardoso6. 1. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal. 2. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. 3. Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Embankment, 1, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia. 4. São Francisco de Assis Veterinary Clinic, Praceta Capitão Varela Santos 14, 2000-016, Santarém, Portugal. 5. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisboa, Portugal. ifonseca@fmv.ulisboa.pt. 6. Department of Veterinary Sciences, and Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Larval stages of trombiculid mites infest a wide variety of wild and domestic animals. The most common clinical signs related with the presence of these parasites are alopecia, crusts, erythema, excoriation, erosion, papules, pustules and vesicles. Most of trombiculid infestations may not be perceived by the clinician due to their small size. Although Ericotrombidium ibericense has been recorded on cats, it has not been found on dogs. METHODS: In August 2019, three domestic dogs presenting pruritic dermatological lesions in the ventral area of the body and interdigital spaces were presented at a veterinary clinic in Santarém, central Portugal. Trombiculid mites were extracted from the skin and preserved in 70% ethanol. Specimens were prepared in slides with Hoyer's medium and observed with optical microscopy. RESULTS: After morphological examination of the specimens, mites were identified as E. ibericense (Acariformes: Trombiculidae). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the trombiculids recorded in European clinical practice are generally identified as Neotrombicula autumnalis by default, since, in most cases, mites are not examined morphologically. This is the first record of E. ibericense in domestic dogs. More studies are needed to evaluate the distribution of these mites in Portugal. Veterinary clinicians must be aware of this parasitosis, as trombiculids can cause exuberant clinical signs, but are often misdiagnosed.
PURPOSE: Larval stages of trombiculid mites infest a wide variety of wild and domestic animals. The most common clinical signs related with the presence of these parasites are alopecia, crusts, erythema, excoriation, erosion, papules, pustules and vesicles. Most of trombiculid infestations may not be perceived by the clinician due to their small size. Although Ericotrombidium ibericense has been recorded on cats, it has not been found on dogs. METHODS: In August 2019, three domestic dogs presenting pruritic dermatological lesions in the ventral area of the body and interdigital spaces were presented at a veterinary clinic in Santarém, central Portugal. Trombiculid mites were extracted from the skin and preserved in 70% ethanol. Specimens were prepared in slides with Hoyer's medium and observed with optical microscopy. RESULTS: After morphological examination of the specimens, mites were identified as E. ibericense (Acariformes: Trombiculidae). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the trombiculids recorded in European clinical practice are generally identified as Neotrombicula autumnalis by default, since, in most cases, mites are not examined morphologically. This is the first record of E. ibericense in domestic dogs. More studies are needed to evaluate the distribution of these mites in Portugal. Veterinary clinicians must be aware of this parasitosis, as trombiculids can cause exuberant clinical signs, but are often misdiagnosed.