First occurrence of the reptile mite, Ophionyssus natricis (Acari: Dermanyssidae) in New Zealand

Authors: Heath ACG
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 5, pp 78-79, May 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Wildlife
Subject Terms: Biosecurity, Inflammation, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Parasites - external, New hosts/new diseases, Species description
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In June 1985, a juvenile common bluetongue skink, Tiliqua scincoides, died at Wellington Zoological gardens. This animal was one of the progeny of three lizards imported from Melbourne Zoo in 1982. They joined a T. scincoides (origin unknown) already in residence at Wellington Zoo. Other juveniles had died on occasions but there were no records indicating whether the cause had been established. In the present case, some organ specimens were received for examination at Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, together with about 300 individuals of a mite, which had been found on the dead skink. About two-thirds of the mites were juveniles. Careful examination of the two surviving reptiles did not discover any more mites but two female mites were found alive in a handful of sandy soil taken from beneath a log where the lizards habitually fed and moulted. On the basis of the keys and description in Evans and Till the mites were identified as Ophionyssus natricis. This species is a common parasite of reptiles and particularly snakes, in zoos throughout the world, but is less readily found in the wild. The mite is involved in the transmission of a haemorrhagic septicaemia but the toxic effects of the mite`s saliva alone, and the anaemia produced by a heavy infestation mean that the vitality of the reptiles is affected and death may result. The number of mites found in the present case would have been sufficient to cause…

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