Morphological and molecular characterization of chigger mites (Acari: Trombididiformes: Trombiculidae) parasitic on small mammals in Brazil

• Grant number: 24/21885-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Fernando de Castro Jacinavicius
• Grantee: Maria Eduarda Barbosa de Souza Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Trombiculidae family is one of the most important families in medical and veterinary medicine. These mites have about 70 species recorded in Brazil. The larval stage of this family is parasitic on any terrestrial vertebrate, causing deep and pruritic lesions at the site of the bite, caused by intense skin reactions in the host. Due to parasitism, the importance of these mites as potential vectors in the epidemiological cycle of pathogens stands out. However, the role of these mites in the epidemiology of pathogens has not yet been confirmed. In addition, studies focused on these mites parasitizing rodents in Brazil are scarce, especially with regard to their participation in the epidemiological chain of pathogens. The present study proposes an integrative analysis (molecular and morphological) of chigger mites deposited in acarological collections, and concomitantly, of material from tissue banks. Since this family can bite humans and shows signs of being possible vectors of pathogens, our proposal includes the study of these mites throughout the national territory, focusing on specimens collected parasitizing rodents and marsupials.