Incidence of fur mite infestation in laboratory rodents

S T Bino Sundar; T J Harikrishnan; Bhaskaran Ravi Latha; S Gomathinayagam; M R Srinivasan; S Ramesh

doi:10.1007/s12639-016-0811-4

Incidence of fur mite infestation in laboratory rodents

J Parasit Dis. 2017 Jun;41(2):383-386. doi: 10.1007/s12639-016-0811-4. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Authors

S T Bino Sundar¹, T J Harikrishnan², Bhaskaran Ravi Latha¹, S Gomathinayagam¹, M R Srinivasan³, S Ramesh⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, India.
² Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, India.
³ Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai, India.
⁴ Laboratory Animal Medicine, Directorate of Centre for Animal Health Studies, TANUVAS Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai, 6000051 India.

Abstract

Incidence of fur mites in laboratory rodents is reported. Among mice, infestation was found to be highest in male Swiss Albino mice followed by female Swiss Albino mice, male Balb C mice and female Balb C mice. Infestation in Guinea pigs was 50 %. None of the rats screened were found to be positive for fur mites. Species of fur mites identified were Myocoptesmusculinus in mice and Chirodiscoidescaviae in Guinea pigs. Clinical signs in affected animals are also reported.

Keywords: Chirodiscoidescaviae; Fur mites; Guinea pig; Mice; Myocoptesmusculinus.