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Spinturnix Mites edit

 
Spinturnix mite pulled from the wing membrane of a Mexican Free-Tailed Bat.

Spinturnix is a genus of mites found in the family Spinturnicidae. Spinturnix mites are an ectoparasite found on species of bats. They live exclusively on the wing and tail membranes and are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. Spinturnix mites are a host specific species, meaning they have a few major host species that they prefer, as well as a few less frequently used hosts.[1] In short, these mites will not infect any bat species. Their selection of host tends to align with the host species that lives closest to their local environment. Spinturnix mites are found strictly on Microchiroptera.[2] These mites are hematophagous, meaning they feed on the blood of their host. They cannot survive without a host for more than a few hours.[3] Therefore, transmission of mites to other hosts must occur by close contact, such as a bat in a roost.[4]

Spinturnix mites are crab-like in appearance. Males have a shield-shaped plate on their underside and a pointed abdomen, while females have teardrop shaped shields and a rounded abdomen.[5] The adaptive claws of the mite allows it to grip the wing membrane and efficiently keep hold of their host, even when their host is in flight.[6]

Life Cycle edit

Spinturnix reproduce sexually, but have been shown to align their reproductive cycle on that of its host, specifically by infesting newborns, which are a vulnerable host.

In Spinturnix mites, the egg and larva are embryonated and thus an active protonymph is born. The deuteronymph, which is the second stage of the life cycle, actively parasitizes and is similar to an adult mite in size and appearance.[7] It has been demonstrated that Spinturnix mites end their reproduction and metamorphosis in winter, when their host species go into hibernation cycles. The life cycle of these mites is extremely shortened, which contributes to the instinct to preserve the offspring. Spinturnix mites spend their entire life cycle on the host species.[8]

Distribution edit

Spinturnix mites can be found globally. They have been seen on bat species from North America to Asia to Europe to Africa.[9]

Host Preference edit

Studies have shown that spinturnix mites are more prevalent on female hosts than male hosts. There is a higher survival rate for the mites when on a female host. However, spinturnix mites also show preference towards subadult male hosts. Young host bats that are still dependent on their mother also show a high infestation rate. These preferences demonstrate the spinturnix mite's ability to detect the host that they find to be the most beneficial to their survival.[10]

 
Detailed image of a spinturnix mite.

Clinical Significance edit

Spinturnix mites have a strong influence on the health and fitness of their host species of bats. These mites have the strongest impact during the maternity period of bat species. It has been demonstrated that pregnant or lactating bats have experienced increased oxygen consumption and weight loss due to Spinturnix infestations.[11] Due to their hematophagous nature, these mites can cause anemia, lethargy, and loss of appetite in bats as well.[12]



  1. ^ Giorgi, Maud S.; Arlettaz, Rapha�l; Guillaume, Fr�d�ric; Nussl�, S�bastien; Ossola, Carlo; Vogel, Peter; Christe, Philippe (2004-03-01). "Causal mechanisms underlying host specificity in bat ectoparasites". Oecologia. 138 (4): 648–654. doi:10.1007/s00442-003-1475-1. ISSN 0029-8549. {{cite journal}}: replacement character in |first2= at position 6 (help); replacement character in |first3= at position 3 (help); replacement character in |first4= at position 2 (help); replacement character in |last4= at position 6 (help)
  2. ^ Frank, Raphael; Kuhn, Thomas; Werblow, Antje; Liston, Andrew; Kochmann, Judith; Klimpel, Sven (2015). "Parasite diversity of European Myotis species with special emphasis on Myotis myotis (Microchiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from a typical nursery roost". Parasites & Vectors. 8 (1): 101. doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0707-7. ISSN 1756-3305. PMC 4336729. PMID 25880235.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  3. ^ Baulechner, Dennis; Becker, Nina I.; Encarnação, Jorge A. (2013-08). "Host specificity in spinturnicid mites: do parasites share a long evolutionary history with their host?". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 51 (3): 203–212. doi:10.1111/jzs.12021. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Bruyndonckx, Nadia; Dubey, Sylvain; Christe, Philippe (2010-12). "Fortuitous infestation or wide host range? The case of Spinturnicidae and their bat hosts: Reply to Guiller and Deunff (2010)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 57 (3): 1353–1354. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2010.10.001. ISSN 1055-7903. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Pocora, Irina; Ševčík, Martin; Uhrin, Marcel; Bashta, Andriy-Taras; Pocora, Viorel (2013-03-01). "Morphometric notes and nymphal stages description of mite species from the Spinturnix myoti group (Mesostigmata: Spinturnicidae) from Romania and Ukraine". International Journal of Acarology. 39 (2): 153–159. doi:10.1080/01647954.2012.757251. ISSN 0164-7954.
  6. ^ Czenze, Zenon J.; Broders, Hugh G. (2011-10-20). "Ectoparasite Community Structure of Two Bats (Myotis lucifugus and M. septentrionalis) from the Maritimes of Canada". Journal of Parasitology Research. doi:10.1155/2011/341535. PMC 3199115. PMID 22028951. Retrieved 2021-04-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  7. ^ Orlova, M. V.; Orlov, O. L.; Kazakov, D. V.; Zhigalin, A. V. (2018-07). "Peculiarities of the Seasonal Biology of Ectoparasites of the Genus Spinturnix von Heyden, 1826 (Mesostigmata: Gamasina: Spinturnicidae) in the Boreal Zone of the Palearctic Region". Biology Bulletin. 45 (4): 359–367. doi:10.1134/S1062359018040118. ISSN 1062-3590. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Christe; Arlettaz; Vogel (2000-05). "Variation in intensity of a parasitic mite (Spinturnix myoti) in relation to the reproductive cycle and immunocompetence of its bat host (Myotis myotis)". Ecology Letters. 3 (3): 207–212. doi:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2000.00142.x. ISSN 1461-023X. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Szubert-Kruszyńska, Agnieszka; Stańczak, Joanna; Cieniuch, Stella; Podsiadły, Edyta; Postawa, Tomasz; Michalik, Jerzy (2018-08-27). "Bartonella and Rickettsia Infections in Haematophagous Spinturnix myoti Mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) and their Bat Host, Myotis myotis (Yangochiroptera: Vespertilionidae), from Poland". Microbial Ecology. 77 (3): 759–768. doi:10.1007/s00248-018-1246-5. ISSN 0095-3628.
  10. ^ CHRISTE, PHILIPPE; GLAIZOT, OLIVIER; EVANNO, GUILLAUME; BRUYNDONCKX, NADIA; DEVEVEY, GODEFROY; YANNIC, GLENN; PATTHEY, PATRICK; MAEDER, ARNAUD; VOGEL, PETER; ARLETTAZ, RAPHAËL (2007-07). "Host sex and ectoparasites choice: preference for, and higher survival on female hosts". Journal of Animal Ecology. 76 (4): 703–710. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2656.2007.01255.x. ISSN 0021-8790. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ van Schaik, Jaap; Kerth, Gerald; Bruyndonckx, Nadia; Christe, Philippe (2014). "The effect of host social system on parasite population genetic structure: comparative population genetics of two ectoparasitic mites and their bat hosts". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 14 (1): 18. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-14-18. ISSN 1471-2148.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  12. ^ Giorgi, Maud S.; Arlettaz, Raphaë; Christe, Philippe; Vogel, Peter (2001-10-07). "The energetic grooming costs imposed by a parasitic mite ( Spinturnix myoti ) upon its bat host ( Myotis myotis )". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences. 268 (1480): 2071–2075. doi:10.1098/rspb.2001.1686. ISSN 0962-8452. {{cite journal}}: line feed character in |title= at position 59 (help)
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