Slide 1 depicts a C57BL/6 mouse infested with fur mites. Note how mites have migrated to the tips of the hairs where they await contact with another host.
Slide 2 is a photo of Myobia musculi, a mouse fur mite. Note the single claw on the second digit.
Slide 3 is a photo of Radfordia affinis, a mouse fur mite. Note the similarities between this mite and Myobia. The distinguishing feature is the presence of two claws on the second digit. Also note that these two claws are of unequal length.
Slide 4 is a high power differential interference contrast (DIC) photo of the second digit of Radfordiaaffinis depicting the two unequal claws.
Slide 5 is a high power photo of the second digit of Radfordia ensifera, the rat fur mite. This mite also has 2 claws but as you will note, these claws are of equal length.
Slide 6 is a photo of a female Myocoptes musculinus. This mite is markedly different that the first three mites examined. Note that the 3rd and 4th pairs of legs are heavily chitinized. These legs have six segments (difficult to identify) with the last two segments folding over. These features are adaptations for clasping hairs. Also note the egg that occupies about 1/2 of the mite's abdomen. Other characteristic features include prominent chelicera and ambulacral suckers on the 1st and 2nd pairs of legs.
Slide 7 is a photo of a male Myocoptes musculinus. This mite is slightly smaller than the female and is morphologically similar throughout its anterior half. Note the prominent 4th pair of legs which are not adapted for clasping (5 segments, not heavily chitinized and lacking characteristic folding of last two segments).
Slide 9 is a photo of Cheyletiella parasitivorax, the rabbit fur mit. Note the prominent palpal claws.
Slide 10 is a high power photo of the unique terminal empodium of Cheyletiella parasitivorax. This empodium is lined by a double row of tenent hairs and has been called a pedal comb.
Slide 11 is a photo of a female Listrophorus gibbus, a less common fur mite of rabbits. Note its characteristic oval shape with short ventrally-directed appendages.
Slide 12 is a photo of a female Listrophorus gibbus.
Slide 13 is a photo of a male Listrophorus gibbus. Note the posterior clasping organ of the male.
Slide 14 is a photo of a female Chirodiscoides caviae, the guinea pig fur mite. Note its elongate shape and ovally curved posterior body. The 1st and 2nd pairs of legs are modified for clasping.
Slide 15 is a photo of a male Chirodiscoides caviae. Note the triangular shape of the posterior body.
Slide 16 depicts a female Chirodiscoides (note egg) and one mite clasping another. This is a common presentation of these mites.
Slide 17 is a photo of hair shafts with numerous Chirodiscoides nits (eggs) attached.
Slide 18 is a photo of a mouse with severe proliferative dermatitis due to infection with the burrowing (or mange) mite, Psorogates simplex. Whereas fur mites usually cause minimal clinical signs, burrowing mites may cause severe disease.
Slide 19 is a photo of Psorogates simplex. Note the round shape and radially arranged legs.
Slide 20 is a photo of Trixacarus caviae, a sarcoptid burrowing mite of guinea pigs.
Slide 21 is a high power DIC photo of a sarcoptid mite similar to Trixacarus. Note the unjointed pedicles with terminal suckers which typifies sarcoptid mites.
Slide 22 is a photo of Demodex aurati, the mange mite of hamsters and gerbils. Note the vermiform shape and 4 pairs of short stubby legs.
Slide 23 is a photo of Demodex criceti, a less pathogenic mange mite of hamsters and gerbils. Note that this mite has similar short stubby legs but its body is much shorter.
Slide 24 is a photo of a skin scraping from a hamster with dermatitis. Note that both Demodex sp. mites are evident. These mites are commonly found together.
Slide 25 is a photo of an ear canal of a rabbit infested with Psoroptes cuniculi, the rabbit ear mite. Note the brown crusty exudate.
Slide 26 is a photo of a portion of curst removed from the ear canal of a rabbit infested with ear mites. Within seconds after removal, these crusts are teaming with motile mites.
Slide 27 is a photo of a female and male Psoroptes cuniculi. Note the sexual dimorphism (difference is size); the female is larger and rounder. The male has prominent caudally directed setae (hair like structures).
Slide 28 is a DIC photo the terminal pedicles of the 1st, 2nd and 4th leg of Psoroptes cuniculi. Note that these pedicles are jointed (unlike sarcotid mites) and have a terminal ambulacral sucker.
Slide 29 is a photo of Ornithonyssus bacoti, a bloodsucking mite, commonly referred to as the tropical rat mite. These types of mites (suborder Mesostigmata) are closely related to the ticks and their morphology reflects this. Note large dorsal shield, prominent chelicera and faint body setae.
Slide 30 is a photo of Laelaps echidninus, the spiny rat mite. Note the similarities between this mite and Ornithonyssus. The body is more globular and has stout body setae and prominent terminal suckers are evident on all legs.
Slide 31 is a photo of Polyplax serrata, the mouse louse (no pun intended). Note the slender body, narrow head as compared to the thorax (charasteristic of anupluran or sucking lice), segmented antennae and six pairs of legs.
Slide 32 is a photo of Polyplax spinulosa, the rat louse. Note the similarities to Polyplax serrata.
Slide 33 is a photo of a guinea pig infested with lice. Note the relatively large size of these arthropods as compared to mites (photo 1).
Slide 34 is a photo of Gliricola porcelli, a guinea pig louse. Note the slender body, head slightly broader than the thorax (characteristic of Mallophagan or biting lice), inapparent antennae and lack of tarsal claws.
Slide 35 is a photo of Gyropus ovalis, another guinea pig louse. Note the oval body, round head and presence of tarsal claws.
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