| Morphological identification of mites from wildlife birds of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran |
| Paper ID : 1194-IPCA4 (R1) |
| Authors |
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Zahra Janjani *1, Zahra Bahiraei2, Javad Khedri3, Fatemeh Nikbin4, Alireza Sazmand5 1Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University 2Department of pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University 3Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran 4faculty of veterinary science, shahidan bahador beigi blvd. 5Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bu-Ali Sina University 6517658978 Hamedan, IRAN |
| Abstract |
| Feather mites are a vast group of Astigmata mites that are highly specialized ectoparasites, and morphologically adapted to their host feathers, which contributes to their diversity. This feature makes them the most diverse avian ectoparasites. They mainly feed on uropygial oil, and may occasionally cause skin irritation. The aim of this study was to identify the feather mites of some wild birds from Phalacrocoracidae, Anatidae, Phoenicopteridae, Rallidae, Pelecanidae and Accipitridae families in a southeastern region of Iran. During the year 2021, totally 26 wildlife birds in were examined in Zabol, Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran. This southeastern region that is bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan is one of the driest regions of the country. Birds were found dead in suburban areas of the country. All of the birds i.e. the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo, n = 3), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos, n = 4), greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber, n = 2), coots (Fulica atra, n = 6), common pochard (Aythya ferina, n = 4), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata Linnaeus, n = 4), dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus, n = 2) and one griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) were examined for the presence of feather mites. Collected mite specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and transferred to the laboratory where they were mounted on glass slides with Hoyer's mounting medium. The slides were studied under the light microscope and identified morphologically using valid keys. Mite infestation was observed in nine birds (34.6%) i.e. three Anas platyrhynchos, three A. clypeata and three Phalacrocorax carbo. A total of 49 mite specimens (order: Sarcoptiformes, family: Freynidae) were collected out of which 51% (25/49) were Freyana sp. These were collected from A. platyrhynchos (n = 13; 7 females, 2 males, 4 immatures) and A. clypeata (n = 12; 5 females, 6 males, 1 immatures). Furthermore, 24 mites collected from Phalacrocorax carbo were identified as Michaelia sp. (2 heteromorphic males, 2 homomorphic males, 7 females, 13 immatures). To our knowledge this is the first report of identification of feather mites in examined birds in southeast of Iran. Identification of the mites at the species level is in progress. |
| Keywords |
| Avian, bird, feather mite, Freyana, Michaelia. |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |