Corresponding authors: Manuel De Rojas (
Academic editor: Jenő Kontschán
Rhinonyssid mites are permanent parasites of birds that inhabit their respiratory tract. There are around 600 species described worldwide and almost all species of birds are found to have embedded rhinonyssid mites. Despite their presumed relevance, these mites are largely unstudied due to the difficulty in sampling them and, therefore, the majority of mite-host associations and species-prevalence data are unknown.
In this study, 179 mite specimens belonging to 27 species and eight genera were identified. Notably, 18 new mite-bird associations were documented for the first time, thus increasing the known host range for these mite species. In addition, mite-host associations found in this study were compared with known associations from these species of birds in the European part of Russia and in Europe. Overall, this study represents the largest survey to date carried out on rhinonyssid mites in Russia and one of the most comprehensive datasets on rhinonyssid host-range.
Nasal mites of the family
The family
In this study, 2,107 bird specimens from northwest of Russia, belonging to 75 species from 55 genera, 30 families and 10 orders were examined for rhinonyssid mites. The mites were identified and the prevalence (including confidence intervals to show how accurate the estimates are) of these species was calculated. Additionally, the mite-host associations, found in our study, were compared with the known rhinonyssids from these species of birds in the European part of Russia and Europe. Overall, this study represents the largest survey to date carried out on rhinonyssid mites in Russia and one of the most comprehensive datasets on rhinonyssid host-range and prevalence.
In this survey, 2,107 individual birds were collected in Russia representing 75 species belonging to 55 genera, 30 families and 10 orders and analysed for rhinonyssid mites. The mites were identified and the prevalence (including 95% confidence intervals to show how accurate the estimates are) of these species was calculated. Additionally, the mite-host associations found in our study were compared with the known rhinonyssids from these species of birds in the European part of Russia and Europe.
Individual birds were collected during four years (2010-2013).
Mites were collected from birds that died under various circumstances. Specifically, most of the surveyed hosts were birds found dead on the roads or that died because of high-voltage transmission lines. Host birds were morphologically classified according to
The nasal cavity of birds was opened following Butenko's method (
Individual birds were collected across the northwest of the European part of Russia, mainly in the territory of the Leningrad Region, at 41 points and, to a lesser extent, in territories of Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad and Pskov regions (Suppl. material
and 60.05 Latitude; and 31.75 Longitude.
A total of 2,107 individual birds were collected, representing 75 species belonging to 55 genera, 30 families and 10 orders. The majority of the studied hosts (59 species from 36 genera) belonged to the order
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Creative Commons Public Domain Waiver (CC-Zero)
Host-mite associations of rhinonyssid mites (
1
Table S2
Host-mite associations form a total of 2,107 individual hosts totalling 75 bird species from 30 avian families and 10 orders (Suppl. material
Column label | Column description |
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Bird taxa | Scientific name and authority of bird taxa |
Mite species | Scientific name and authority of mite taxa |
Locality (this study) | Sampling localities |
Coordinates | Coordinates in degrees minutes and seconds |
Date | Collection date |
In the present study, the rhinonyssid mite species collected from 2,107 bird individuals from 75 bird species at 41 sites in Northwest Russia were reported. A total of 27 host-mite associations were found, from which 18 were novel (Table
The prevalence of rhinonyssid mites was found to vary between bird taxa, as found by previous studies (
The mite-host associations found in this study were compared with those known from the same host species inhabiting the European part of Russia and Europe (see Suppl. material
On the other hand, some species that have been found in the European part of Russia and Europe were not found in this study (e.g.
The authors are very grateful to the head of the laboratory of parasitology ZIN RAS Medvedev DSc. and employees of the laboratory of parasitology: Mironov DSc., Shatrov DSc., Bochkov DSc. and Leonovich DSc. for the comprehensive assistance and support provided in the process of carrying out the research. We thank Centro Municipal Zoosanitario de Sevilla and especially Mr. Francisco Peña Fernández and Mr. Rafael Cuadrado Nieto for their technical support. Our thanks to Geoffrey Giddings for proof-reading the manuscript.
MDR, JD, and ID conceived the study. ID collected the samples. MR and ID made the morphobiometric assessments. JD analysed the data. JD wrote the last version of the article with the help of all authors.
Data of prevalence of rhinonyssid mites in different orders of hosts and the number of families, genera and species of birds studied. Confidence intervals of prevalence (95%) are provided between parentheses.
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1 | 3 | 4 | 105 | 13 | 12.38% (7.38-20.04) |
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1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 50% (2.56-97.44) |
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4 | 5 | 6 | 117 | 8 | 6.8% (3.51-12.91) |
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1 | 1 | 1 | 262 | 10 | 3.8% (2.09-6.88) |
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1 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 7.69% (0.39-33.31) |
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1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0% (0-56.15) |
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1 | 2 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 0% (0-10.71) |
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1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 25% (4.44-59.07) |
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18 | 37 | 55 | 1549 | 58 | 3.7% (2.91-4.81) |
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1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0% (0-19.36) |
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Data on the mite-host associations detected. Each row depicts an individual bird from mite-host associations, in which more than one mite was found. N = number of birds examined per mite-host association, Ni = Number of infected birds, I = number of mites isolated. Region (previous records) = NR: Northwest Russia, ER: European part of Russia, WE: Western Europe and * indicates a previously unrecorded mite host association. Note that values from N and Ni columns are duplicated between individual birds that belong to the same mite-host association.
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NA | 2 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
38 | 1 | 2 | NR* | Dubrovka, Leningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
38 | 1 | 1 | NR* | Volosovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
1 | 1 | 1 | NR, WE | Pskov, Pskov region, Russia | |||
11 | 9 | 1 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 1 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 2 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 1 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 2 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 1 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 2 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 1 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
11 | 9 | 1 | NR* | Ermilovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
17 | 1 | 1 | NR | Pikalevo, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
2 | 1 | 2 | NR* | Pikalevo, Leningrad region, Russia | NA | ||
27 | 3 | 4 | NR | Voypala, Leningrad Region, Russia |
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27 | 3 | 2 | NR | Voypala, Leningrad Region, Russia |
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27 | 3 | 1 | NR | Voypala, Leningrad Region, Russia |
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27 | 1 | 1 | NR* | Lavrovo, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
4 | 1 | 2 | NR* | Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
22 | 1 | 2 | NR* | Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
NA | 19 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
17 | 2 | 1 | NR* | Kronstad, Leningrad Region, Russia; Apraksin, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
17 | 2 | 2 | NR* | Kronstad, Leningrad Region, Russia; Apraksin, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
262 | 5 | 3 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia; Luga, Leningradskaya, Russia; Radogosh, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
262 | 5 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia; Luga, Leningradskaya, Russia; Radogosh, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
262 | 5 | 2 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia; Luga, Leningradskaya, Russia; Radogosh, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
262 | 5 | 2 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia; Luga, Leningradskaya, Russia; Radogosh, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
262 | 5 | 3 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia; Luga, Leningradskaya, Russia; Radogosh, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
262 | 3 | 4 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia. | |||
262 | 3 | 4 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia. | |||
262 | 3 | 2 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia; Voybokalo, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Slantsy, Leningrad Region, Russia. | |||
13 | 1 | 2 | NR* | Vyritsa, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
NA | 31 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
6 | 1 | 3 | NR, WE | ||||
2 | 1 | 2 | NR, ER, WE | ||||
35 | 6 | 2 | NR, ER | Rjbachii, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
35 | 6 | 1 | NR, ER | Rjbachii, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
35 | 6 | 2 | NR, ER | Rjbachii, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
35 | 6 | 1 | NR, ER | Rjbachii, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
35 | 6 | 1 | NR, ER | Rjbachii, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
35 | 6 | 2 | NR, ER | Rjbachii, Leningrad Region, Russia | |||
NA | 9 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 38 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 3 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 32 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 29 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 5 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 2 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 28 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 7 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
71 | 11 | 1 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 2 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 2 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 1 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 1 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 3 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 1 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 1 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 3 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 2 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
71 | 11 | 1 | NR* | Grjazno, Kaliningrado Region, Russia | NA | ||
NA | 39 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 3 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 31 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 51 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 16 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 9 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 5 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
29 | 1 | 10 | NR* | St. Petersburg, Russia | NA | ||
NA | 13 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 47 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 63 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 23 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 17 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 7 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 86 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
91 | 3 | 3 | NR* | Tikhvin, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Sinyavino, Leningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
91 | 3 | 2 | NR* | Tikhvin, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Sinyavino, Leningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
91 | 3 | 3 | NR* | Tikhvin, Leningrad Oblast, Russia; Sinyavino, Leningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
NA | 2 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 8 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 27 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
19 | 1 | 3 | NR* | Lomonosov, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
118 | 3 | 2 | NR* | St. Petersburg, Russia | NA | ||
118 | 3 | 2 | NR* | St. Petersburg, Russia | NA | ||
118 | 3 | 1 | NR* | St. Petersburg, Russia | NA | ||
118 | 9 | 2 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 2 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
118 | 9 | 1 | NR, WE | St. Petersburg, Russia | |||
NA | 2 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 9 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 29 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 6 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
74 | 1 | 5 | NR* | Gavrilovo, Leningradskaya Region, Russia | NA | ||
91 | 3 | 18 | NR* | Leningrad Region Russia; Boronichevo, Leningrad Region, Russia; Novaya LadogaLeningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
91 | 3 | 3 | NR* | Leningrad Region Russia; Boronichevo, Leningrad Region, Russia; Novaya LadogaLeningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
91 | 3 | 5 | NR* | Leningrad Region Russia; Boronichevo, Leningrad Region, Russia; Novaya LadogaLeningrad Oblast, Russia | NA | ||
NA | 27 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 3 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 1 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 16 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 16 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 39 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 7 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 3 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 41 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
27 | 7 | 1 | NR* | Arkhangelsk Region, Russia | NA | ||
27 | 7 | 2 | NR* | Arkhangelsk Region, Russia | NA | ||
27 | 7 | 1 | NR* | Arkhangelsk Region, Russia | NA | ||
27 | 7 | 3 | NR* | Arkhangelsk Region, Russia | NA | ||
27 | 7 | 2 | NR* | Arkhangelsk Region, Russia | NA | ||
27 | 7 | 2 | NR* | Arkhangelsk Region, Russia | NA | ||
27 | 7 | 1 | NR* | Arkhangelsk Region, Russia | NA | ||
78 | 1 | 1 | NR* | Hervir, Leningrad Region, Russia | NA | ||
19 | 7 | 2 | NR, ER WE | Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia | |||
19 | 7 | 2 | NR, ER WE | Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia | |||
19 | 7 | 1 | NR, ER WE | Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia | |||
19 | 7 | 1 | NR, ER WE | Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia | |||
19 | 7 | 1 | NR, ER WE | Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia | |||
19 | 7 | 1 | NR, ER WE | Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia | |||
19 | 7 | 1 | NR, ER WE | Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk, Russia | |||
NA | 121 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA | |
NA | 16 | 0 | 0 | NA | NA | NA |
Figure S1
Figure
Map of sampling localities. Note that specific locations, as well as their coordinates, can be found in Table 2.
File: oo_365465.png
Table S1
Table
Comparison of species of the family
File: oo_365467.tsv
Table S2
Table
Rhinonyssid mites from Russian birds
File: oo_365526.tsv