Demodex gatoi: new species of hair follicle mite (Acari: Demodecidae) from the domestic cat (Carnivora: Felidae)

摘要

Demodex gatoi sp. nov. is described in all its life stages from the domestic cat. The host, referred in Louisiana, USA, was diagnosed with presumptive feline acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (despite negative serology for feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus) and harboured enormous numbers of both D. gatoi and D. cati. The cat also exhibited alopecia, erythema and scaly and crusty dermatitis on the face, neck and ears, and the mites were found in skin scrapings from the affected areas. Unlike D. cati, which inhabits the hair follicles, D. gatoi resides on the epidermal surface. More than half of the D. gatoi population sampled was made up of ova, indicating rapid population growth.