New Species of Elianella Vercammen-Grandjean (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) from the Insular Equatorial Guinea with a Key to the Species into this Genu

Author(s)

Bassini-Silva, Ricardo ^{[1, 2]} ; Huang-Bastos, Matheus ^{[1, 2]} ; Welbourn, Cal ^[3] ; Ochoa, Ron ^[4] ; Barros-Battesti, Darci Moraes ^{[2, 5]} ; Jacinavicius, Fernando de Castro ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Butantan, Lab Colecoes Zool, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo FMVZ USP, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Dept Med Vet Prevent & Saude Anim, Prof Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva Ave 87, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Smithsonian Inst, Natl Insect & Mite Collect, Natl Museum Nat Hist, Washington, DC 20560 - USA

^[4] ARS, Systemat Entomol Lab, USDA, Beltsville, MD - USA

^[5] UNESP, Dept Patol, Fac Ciencias Agr & Vet, Reprod & Saude Unica, Jaboticabal, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACTA PARASITOLOGICA; v. 66, n. 3, p. 997-1002, SEP 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Purpose The African continent has 452 chiggers (Trombidiformes: Trombiculidae) in 61 genera. One of these, Elianella Vercammen-Grandjean, 1956, has only two species known for Africa. The objective of the present study is to describe a new species for Equatorial Guinea, with the aim of increasing knowledge so scarce for Africa. Methods In this study, we provide drawings, measurements and microscopy images on a Microscope Zeiss for the new species described below. Also, this type of the new species is deposited in the USNM. Results We describe a new species of Elianella collected parasitizing the Bioko Forest Shrew, Sylvisorex isabellae Heim de Balsac (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae) from the insular Equatorial Guinea. Also, we are providing a key for the three species of Elianella. Conclusion Finally, we are contributing to the knowledge of African species, due the fact this new species is the first chigger recorded to the Equatorial Guinea, on the west coast of Central Africa. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/19853-0 - Chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae and Leeuwenhoekiidae) parasites of vertebrates: morphological studies and investigation of the presence of Rickettsia spp
• Grantee: Fernando de Castro Jacinavicius
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/24667-8 - Catalogue of types of the family Trombiculidae sensu lato (Acari: Trombidiformes) deposited in the national Chigger collection of the USNM and use of LT-SEM technique for a better interpretation of the morphological characters
• Grantee: Ricardo Bassini Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/01416-7 - Chigger mites from Brazilian birds: morphological studies and investigation of the presence of pathogens
• Grantee: Ricardo Bassini Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate