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A redescription of the chigger Hannemania achalai Alzuet and Mauri, 1987 (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Leeuwenhoekiidae) in frogs from Sierra Grande, Cordoba, Argentina

Paredes-León, Ricardo1 ; Biolé, Fernanda G.2 ; Valetti, Julián A.3 and Martino, Adolfo L.4

1✉ Colección Nacional de Ácaros, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Tercer circuito exterior s/n, 04510, Ciudad de México, México.
2Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal (INPA-CONICET-UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Chorroarín, 280, C1427CWO, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
3Ecología, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional N°36-km. 601, X5804BYA Río Cuarto, Argentina.
4Ecología, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Ruta Nacional N°36-km. 601, X5804BYA Río Cuarto, Argentina.

2018 - Volume: 58 Issue: 1 pages: 159-164

https://doi.org/10.24349/acarologia/20184234
ZooBank LSID: 2B6FE32E-0057-41C1-A53B-232357AA41F9

Keywords

Amphibia endoparasites Pleurodema cordobae Pleurodema kriegi Pampa de Achala

Abstract

We redescribe the endoparasitic chigger Hannemania achalai based on specimens collected from the type frog host (Pleurodema kriegi) and an additional host (P. cordobae) in the type locality of this mite (Pampa de Achala, Córdoba province, Argentina). Hannemania achalai is diagnosed by the following characters: palpal setal formula B/B/BBB/5B, palpal claw trifurcate, galeal seta B, parasubterminala I N, 2–4 genualae I, 1 genuala II–III, femorala III absent and coxa III with 1B. This redescription is accompanied by micrographs with scanning electronic microscopy and drawings.

Introduction

Chigger mites of the genus Hannemania Oudemans, 1911 (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Leeuwenhoekiidae) are temporary and highly specialized endoparasites of frogs, toads and salamanders (Amphibia). To date, 27 species are recognized, almost all from United States to Argentina, and only one from New Caledonia (Jacinto-Maldonado et al. 2016, Silva-de la Fuente et al. 2016). Chiggers are parasites only in larval stage and the taxonomy of this genus is entirely based on characteristics of this instar. Moreover, some species from South America are poorly described and in some cases the specific identification is not possible. The genus Hannemania is especially in need of revision.

Hannemania achalai Alzuet and Mauri, 1987 was described parasitizing the frogs Pleurodema kriegi (Müller, 1926), Odontophrynus occidentalis (Berg, 1896), Pleurodema sp. and Odontophrynus sp. from Pampa de Achala, Córdoba, Argentina. Their brief original description lacks illustrations of idiosoma and legs, and details of leg and palp chaetotaxy.

The parasitic load by H. achalai in two frog species was analysed by Biolé et al. (2015). They found that P. kriegi has higher infestation by H. achalai than Pleurodema cordobae Valetti, Salas and Martino, 2009: prevalence (number of hosts infested with H. achalai divided by the number of hosts examined) 80.6% and 41.6%, mean intensity (average intensity of mites per infested frogs) 29.4 and 14.4, and the intensity range (minimum and maximum number of mites per infested frog in the sample) 1 – 444 and 1 – 49, respectively. The specimens examined by Biolé et al. (2015) for the analysis of infestation parameters are the same specimens examined here for taxonomic purposes.

In this paper, we give a redescription of H. achalai showing measurements, drawings and SEM micrographs of diagnostic morphological characters, based on specimens collected from the type host species P. kriegi and the additional host P. cordobae previously reported by Biolé et al. (2015), both collected in the type locality of the mite.

Materials and methods

Mites were extracted from subdermal layer of five specimens of P. cordobae and three specimens of P. kriegi, collected from the type locality of the mite species, and surroundings. The frog hosts are housed in the Colección Herpetológica, Ecología, Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físico-Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Argentina. The collecting number of each frog inspected is indicated in brackets in material examined section. Twenty-six mites randomly selected from each host specimen were cleared in lactophenol and mounted in Hoyer’s medium. Drawings were made with a Nikon Optiphot 2 compound microscope (Tokyo, Japan) equipped with a camera lucida. Line drawings were edited using the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP) (The GIMP team 2014). Six mite specimens were prepared for observing and illustrating with a Hitachi SU1510 scanning electron microscope (Tokyo, Japan), following the conventional SEM protocol provided by Alberti and Nuzzaci (1996).

All the mites obtained (n = 63), including those prepared for SEM (n = 6), mounted in microscope slides (n = 26) and specimens preserved in ethanol (n = 31) were examined for qualitative characters to carry out the redescription. Those preserved in ethanol were previously and temporally mounted in a drop of lactic acid on cavity slides. Nomenclature of measured morphological structures follow Goff et al. (1982) and Stekolnikov (2013), all measurements are in micrometers (μm) and were taken from 26 specimens preserved in Hoyer’s medium. All the mite specimens analysed are deposited in the Colección Nacional de Ácaros (CNAC) kept at the Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City, Mexico.

Results and discussion
Hannemania achalai Alzuet and Mauri, 1987 (Figures 1–3)

H. achalai Alzuet and Mauri, 1987: 114

Diagnosis — SIF = 5B–B–3–2111.0000; fPp = B/B/BBB. Pc = 3; Gn = 2; fSc = PL > AL ≥ AM; PL/SB; fCx = 2.1.1; fSt = 0.1; DS = 53 – 75; VS = 49 – 69; NDV = 132; Ip = 765 – 865; AW = 50 – 60; PW = 65 – 80; SB = 20 – 30; ASB = 45 – 55; PSB = 20 – 25; SD = 75 – 80; AP = 15 – 20; AM = 30 – 40; AL = 30 – 40; PL = 60 – 70; S = 75 – 115; H = 40 – 45; Dmin = 30 – 45; Dmax = 50 – 65; Vmin = 30 – 35; Vmax = 35 – 45; pa = 280 – 320; pm = 240 – 275; pp = 250 – 290.

Emended description (larva, n = 63)

Figure 1. Hannemania achalai Alzuet and Mauri, 1987 (larva): A – dorsal aspect of idiosoma, B – ventral aspect of idiosoma, C – ventral aspect of gnathosoma, D – dorsal aspect of gnathosoma, E – prodorsum showing scutum and eyes, F – palpal tarsus, G – palpal claw, H – lateral aspect of tarsus I.

Figure 2. Hannemania achalai Alzuet and Mauri, 1987 (larva): A – leg I, B – leg II, C – leg III. All the specialized setae and some representative non-specialized branched setae are illustrated. Scale bar 50 μm.

Figure 3. Hannemania achalai Alzuet and Mauri, 1987 (larva): A – gnathosoma, B – palpal tibia and tarsus, C – cheliceral blade. Scale bar 50 μm (A), and 25 μm (B and C).

Idiosoma — 950 – 1215 long and 450 – 600 wide (Figures 1A–B). Eyes 2 + 2, total number of idiosomal setae range from 102 to 144. Scutum with naso, 70 – 80 long and 70 – 85 wide (Figure 1E); diameter of sensillary bases 7 – 9, AMW = 9 – 11. Ventrally with only one pair of posterior sternal setae (Figure 1B).

Gnathosoma — 95 – 110 long and 60 – 70 wide (Figures 1C–D, 3A). Palp, five-segmented with following setal distribution: trochanter without setae, femur and genua with one branched seta, tibia with dorsal, lateral and ventral setae branched, and tarsus with five branched setae and basal tarsala (Figures 1F, 3B); palpal claw trifurcate (Figures 1G, 3B); galeala branched; cheliceral blade expanded distally with a series of teeth (Figure 3C). Gnathobasal setae branched.

Legs — All six-segmented, with pair of claws and claw-like empodium, and with short thin onychotriches. Leg I: coxa with 2 non-specialized branched setae (2B); trochanter 1B; femur 6B; genu 4B, 2 genualae, microgenuala; tibia 8B, 2 tibialae, microtibiala; tarsus 24B, tarsala (21 – 24 long), microtarsala distal of tarsala, subterminala, parasubterminala, pretarsala (Figures 1H, 2A). Leg II: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; femur 5B; genu 4B, 1 genuala, microgenuala; tibia 6B, 2 tibialae; tarsus 18B, tarsala (20 – 22 long), microtarsala slightly distal of tarsala, pretarsala (Figure 2B). Leg III: coxa 1B; trochanter 1B; femur 4B; genu 4B, 1 genuala; tibia 6B, 1 tibiala; tarsus 16B (Figure 2C).

Hosts — Pleurodema sp., Odontophrynus sp. and O. occidentalis (Alzuet and Mauri 1987), P. kriegi (Alzuet and Mauri 1987; Biolé et al. 2015), and P. cordobae (Biolé et al. 2015).

Material examined — 6 larvae (CNAC007184–007187) ex Pleurodema cordobae [847], ARGENTINA, Córdoba, Los Linderos, -32°01’04.9”, -64°56’22.9”, 2621 m a.s.l., 15 Dec. 2009, coll. A. L. Martino, P. R. Grenat and M. Otero. 5 larvae (CNAC007188–007191) ex Pleurodema cordobae [884], ARGENTINA, Córdoba, Mal Paso, Pampa de Achala, -31°49’52”, -64°51’40”, 2308 m a.s.l., 16 Feb. 2010, coll. A. L. Martino, J. A. Valetti, P. R. Grenat, M. Otero and F. G. Biolé. 11 larvae (CNAC007192–007197) same data except host [885]. 5 larvae (CNAC007198–007201) ex Pleurodema cordobae [898], ARGENTINA, Córdoba, Cerro Negro, -31°57’26.2”, -64°54’59.7”, 2323 m a.s.l., 5 Nov. 2011, coll. M. Otero. 12 larvae (CNAC007202–007206) ex Pleurodema cordobae [905], ARGENTINA, Córdoba, Los Tabaquillos, -32°23’58.4”, -64°55’35.1”, 2113 m a.s.l., 22 Nov. 2011, coll. J. A. Valetti, P. R. Grenat, M. Otero and A. L. Martino. 6 larvae (CNAC007207–007210) ex Pleurodema kriegi [759] ARGENTINA, Córdoba, La Posta, -31°36’43.7”, -64°52’26.7”, 2159 m a.s.l., 4 Dec. 2008, coll. J. A. Valetti, J. Marquez and M. Ammann. 6 larvae (CNAC007211–007213) ex Pleurodema kriegi [862], ARGENTINA, Córdoba, Pampa de Achala, La Trinidad, -31°44’13”, -64°50’58”, 2318 m a.s.l., 5 Jan. 2010, coll. J. A. Valetti, A. L. Martino and C. Casale. 12 larvae (CNAC007214–007217) ex Pleurodema kriegi [1633], ARGENTINA, Córdoba, Pampa de Achala, El Cóndor, -31°36’23”, -64°52’06”, 2178 m a.s.l., 16 Dec. 1981, coll. R. Martori.

Remarks — All the specimens with 2 genualae I, except one specimen (CNAC007207) with 2 genualae on right leg and 1 genuala on left leg, and one specimen (CNAC007186) with 2 genualae on right leg and 3 genualae on left leg. All the specimens with 1 genuala III, except one specimen (CNAC007184) with 1 genuala on left leg and 2 genualae on right leg.

We find that our specimens are conspecific with H. achalai based on the palpal setal formula, the palpal claw, and the number of specialized nude setae on legs: genualae I–III, tibialae I–III, tarsalae and pretarsalae I–II, and subterminala I.

However, the specimens analysed in this study differ from the original description by Alzuet and Mauri (1987) in the following characters: 1) the shape of galeala which is sparsely branched instead nude as mentioned by Alzuet and Mauri (1987), and 2) the presence of 2 genualae I constantly, whereas in the type specimens the number of genualae I range 2–4 (Alzuet and Mauri 1987). These differences are considered here as intraspecific variation until type material can be examined.

According to Alzuet and Mauri (1987) and Salazar Martínez et al. (2004) the type material is deposited at Museo de La Plata (MLP), Argentina, however, types were not seen for this study.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to M.Sc. G. Montiel and Dra. T. M. Pérez of Colección Nacional de Ácaros (CNAC) of Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IB-UNAM) for granting access to CNAC where the specimens were studied. We are grateful to M.Sc. B. Mendoza of Laboratorio de Microscopia Electrónica y Fotografía de la Biodiversidad, IB-UNAM for helping us to process the specimens for scanning electronic microscopy and obtain the micrographs. We are grateful to two anonymous referees for their useful comments.

References

Alberti G., Nuzzaci G. 1996 — SEM and TEM techniques — In: Lindquist E.E., Sabelis M.W., Bruin J. (Eds). Eriophyoid mites: their biology, natural enemies and control. Amsterdam: Elsevier. p. 399-410. doi:10.1016/S1572-4379(96)80025-X

Alzuet A.D.B. de, Mauri R.A. 1987 — Ácaros Trombiculidae del género Hannemania Oudemans, endoparásitos de anfibios — Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent., 44: 111-116.

Biolé F.G., Valetti J.A., Grenat P.R., Salas N.E., Martino A.L. 2015 — Parasitic infestation of intradermal chiggers Hannemania achalai (Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae) on the cryptic species Pleurodema kriegi and P. cordobae (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae) from Sierra Grande, Córdoba, Argentina — Herpetol. J., 25: 163-167.

Goff M.L., Loomis R.B., Welbourn W.C., Wrenn W.J. 1982 — A glossary of chigger terminology (Acari: Trombiculidae) — J. Med. Entomol., 19: 221-238. doi:10.1093/jmedent/19.3.221

Jacinto-Maldonado M., Paredes-León R., Salgado-Maldonado G., García A., Suzán G. 2016 — New records of amphibians parasitized by chiggers in Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Mexico, and taxonomic notes on Hannemania mexicana (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Leeuwenhoekiidae) — Syst. Appl. Acarol., 21(1): 13-20. doi:10.11158/saa.21.1.2

Salazar Martínez A.E., Abrahamovich A.H., Díaz N.B. 2004 — Types of Acari in the collection at Museo de La Plata, Argentina — Rev. Mus. La Plata, 45: 1-16.

Silva-de la Fuente M.C., Moreno-Salas L., Castro-Carrasco C. 2016 — Review of the genus Hannemania (Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae) with description the two new species in amphibians from Chile — Zootaxa, 4200(4): 580-590.

Stekolnikov A.A. 2013 — Leptotrombidium (Acari: Trombiculidae) of the World — Zootaxa, 3728(1): 1-173.

The GIMP team 2014 — GIMP 2.8.14 — [28 December 2016] Available from http://www.gimp.org.



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Article editorial history
Date received:
2017-03-28
Date accepted:
2017-08-16
Date published:
2018-01-31

Edited by:
Faraji, Farid

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
2018 Paredes-León, Ricardo; Biolé, Fernanda G.; Valetti, Julián A. and Martino, Adolfo L.
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