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Relationship between Psoroptes cuniculi and the internal bacterium Serratia marcescens
Stefania Perrucci1, Giacomo Rossi, Gianluca Fichi
1Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Profilassi e Igiene degli Alimenti-Università di Pisa- Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, 56124 Pisa, Italy. perrucci@vet.unipi.it
Experimental & Applied Acarology
|September 1, 2005
Summary
Psoroptes cuniculi mites can infest rabbits without Serratia marcescens bacteria. Amikacin treatment effectively removes S. marcescens from mites, but these treated mites still cause infestation and ear crusts in rabbits.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Psoroptes cuniculi mites are common causes of ear mange in rabbits.
- The role of associated bacteria, such as Serratia marcescens, in P. cuniculi infestations is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if P. cuniculi requires S. marcescens for infestation and lesion development in rabbits.
- To determine if S. marcescens is transmitted transovarially in P. cuniculi populations.
Main Methods:
- Serratia marcescens was isolated from P. cuniculi mites.
- Mites were treated with the antibiotic Amikacin to eliminate S. marcescens.
- Experimental infestations were performed on healthy rabbits using S. marcescens-free and S. marcescens-infected mites.
- Infestation success, lesion development, and bacterial presence were monitored.
Main Results:
- Rabbits infested with both S. marcescens-free and S. marcescens-infected mites became infested.
- Only rabbits infested with S. marcescens-free mites developed ear crusts.
- S. marcescens was not detected in eggs or newly born larvae of infected mites, indicating no transovarial transmission.
Conclusions:
- Psoroptes cuniculi mites can infest and cause lesions in rabbits independently of Serratia marcescens.
- Serratia marcescens is not essential for mite survival or infectivity.
- Transovarial transmission of S. marcescens does not occur in P. cuniculi populations.