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Not Only Leptotrombidium spp. an Annotated Checklist of Chigger Mites (Actinotrichida: Trombiculidae) Associated with

Hanna Moniuszko1, Konrad Wojnarowski2, Paulina Cholewińska3

  • 1Section of Basic Research in Horticulture, Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Trombiculid mites, including the scrub typhus vector Orientia tsutsugamushi, are linked to numerous bacterial pathogens. Research over 100 years identified 100 mite species associated with 31 bacteria, highlighting their potential role in disease transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Entomology
  • Bacteriology
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Trombiculid mites, particularly the genus Leptotrombidium, are recognized vectors for Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent of scrub typhus.
  • While O. tsutsugamushi is well-studied, trombiculid mites harbor other bacterial pathogens, a less explored aspect of their ecology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compile and review documented associations between Trombiculidae mites and bacterial pathogens based on nearly a century of research.
  • To identify the diversity of mite species, bacterial taxa, and host associations reported in the literature.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications spanning approximately 100 years.
  • Taxonomic identification of trombiculid mites based on recent revisions and checklists.
  • Compilation of data on bacterial pathogens detected in or associated with trombiculid mites.

Main Results:

  • A total of 100 trombiculid mite species from 28 genera were found to be associated with 31 different bacterial taxa.
  • Pathogen-positive mites represent approximately 3.3% of the known species within the Trombiculidae family.
  • These mites inhabit diverse geographical regions and parasitize a wide range of hosts, including mammals, birds, and reptiles.

Conclusions:

  • The documented associations reveal a broader role for Trombiculidae mites in harboring and potentially transmitting bacterial pathogens beyond O. tsutsugamushi.
  • The vast distribution and diverse host range of these mites suggest that many more Trombiculidae-pathogen associations likely remain undiscovered.
  • Advancements in molecular techniques for large-scale bacterial community surveys are expected to uncover further instances of mite-bacterial pathogen interactions.
Keywords:
AnaplasmaBartonellaBorreliaCoxiellaFrancisellaLeptospiraMycobacteriumOrientiaRickettsia

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