Mites

Mites are common ectoparasites, found not only on mammals and birds, but also on reptiles and even fish. Including the free-living species, there have been more than 30,000 species described world-wide. Of these, about 250 species of mites are recognized as being the cause of health-related problems in man and animals.

Mites are rather small when compared to ticks, the other members of the class, with a body length of 0.2 – 0.4 mm. Mites possess an exoskeleton which contains chitin and, depending on the species of mite, is to a greater or lesser extent sclerotized.

Like the tick, mites have three developmental stages: the larvae with only three pairs of legs; the nymphal stage (mostly two stages, in fact); and the adult stage, which, like the nymphal stage, possesses four pairs of legs.

Mites are of medical and veterinary importance due to their physical presence on the animal. They may also give rise to allergic problems.

However, with the exception of the transmission of certain Rickettsias, they do not play a major part in the transmission of pathogens. A mite’s mouth parts consist of a pair of chelicerae, which are designed to facilitate feeding, and in the parasitic species, are well-adapted for piercing, sucking or chewing. Parasitic mites feed predominantly on liquefied food that has been pre-digested by enzymes secreted into the host’s tissues from paired salivary glands.

Of the parasitic mites relevant in veterinary medicine, some are host-specific, whilst others such as Sarcoptes may infest a wide range of animals. Mites have zoonotic potential, either by direct infection of man or by provoking allergic reactions.

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