Korean J Parasitol.  2012 Jun;50(2):151-156. 10.3347/kjp.2012.50.2.151.

An Outbreak of Caparinia tripilis in a Colony of African Pygmy Hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris) from Korea

• Kim DH
• Oh DS
• Ahn KS
• Shin SS

• KMID: 1384745
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2012.50.2.151

Abstract

In February 2010, dermatitis characterized by scale and self-trauma due to puritis was recognized in a group of 22 four-toed hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris Wagner, 1841) from a local pet shop in Gwangju, Korea. Microscopic examinations of skin scraping samples showed numerous mites of all developmental stages. Morphologically, pedicels of adult mites were short and unjointed. Tarsal caruncles were bell-shaped on all legs of males while they were absent on legs III and IV of females. Three long setae on the third pair of legs in both sexes were present. Adult males had posterior end of the abdomen with trilobate projection on each side, each lobe with a long seta. Based on these features, the mites were identified as Caparinia tripilis. This is the first report of caparinic mite infestation in hedgehogs from Korea. Identification keys for the family Psoroptidae and the genus Caparinia are provided.

Keyword

Caparinia tripilis; hedgehogs; Atelerix albiventris; case report

MeSH Terms

Animals
*Disease Outbreaks
Female
Hedgehogs/*parasitology
Male
Microscopy
Mite Infestations/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary
Mites/anatomy & histology/*classification
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Skin/parasitology/pathology
Skin Diseases, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary