A new species and new host record of Demodecidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) associated with the bandicoot rat (Rodentia: Muridae) from Lao PDR with data on parasitism and a checklist of the demodecid mites of rodents

Abstract

A new species, Demodex bandicotae sp. nov. (Acariformes: Demodecidae), is described based on adult stages from the hairy skin of the greater bandicoot rat Bandicota indica (Bechstein, 1800), collected in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). Parasites were noted in 41.7% of bandicoot rats, with a mean intensity of 5.6 parasites in the tested skin fragments of the host. This is the first report on Demodecidae mites in rodents of the genus Bandicota Gray, 1873. A checklist of demodecid mites in rodents worldwide is also provided.