Intradermal infections by chigger mites (Hannemania spp.) in the Andean frog Telmatobius atacamensis (Anura, Telmatobiidae)

QUINZIO, SILVIA INÉS; GOLDBERG, FRANCISCO JAVIER

Salamandra

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde e.V.

Año: 2015 p. 263 - 268

0036-3375

We report the infection of adults of the Andean frog, Telmatobius atacamensis (Anura, Telmatobiidae) by leeuwenhoekiid mites of Hannemania sp., and describe the histological characteristics of the normal and infected skin and the Hannemania larval capsule. Although we cannotconclude that this infection can cause death in T. atacamensis specimens, the absence of any information about its biology (size and sex ratio within this population, the possible existence of other populations, their reproductive strategies or reproductive potential, and their seasonalactivity) and their vulnerability and previously reported infection with chytridiomycosis, make necessary a continuous monitoring of the population to assess the evolution of mite and other infections in order to evaluate the possible effects of this infectious disease in population declines.