ABSTRACT We determined the prevalence of skin mites in the hair follicles of the abdomen and caudal areas of 94 wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) from seven Canary Islands (Spain). We detected and identified mites through real-time qPCR by comparing nuclear 18S rRNA gene sequences and, for the first time, sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Three and one specimens from Fuerteventura and Tenerife, respectively, were positive for mites by qPCR. Demodex musculi was identified in all positive individuals. This result constitutes the first record regarding this species in the archipelago. The prevalence of mites within mice tested was of 4%, which was lower than that reported for other mammals such as dogs, cats, marmots and bats. This value was also lower than the percentages obtained in immunocompromised laboratory individuals or Robertsonian wild mice, but was similar to the value determined for wild standard specimens (2n = 40). Our results seem to indicate that skin mites are uncommon inhabitants of the Canary mice. Moreover, since the Canary mice harbour only one of the two species of skin mites that commonly infest mice, D. musculi and Myobia musculi may be restricted by the host species depending on the habitat.

中文翻译：

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首次记录到来自加那利群岛（西班牙）的野生家鼠体内存在皮肤螨（蠕形螨）

摘要我们确定了来自七个加那利群岛（西班牙）的 94 只野生家鼠（Mus musculusdomesticus）腹部和尾部区域毛囊中皮肤螨的患病率。我们通过比较核 18S rRNA 基因序列和线粒体 16S rRNA 基因序列，通过实时 qPCR 检测和鉴定螨虫。分别来自富埃特文图拉岛和特内里费岛的三个和一个标本通过 qPCR 呈阳性。在所有阳性个体中都发现了蠕形螨。这一结果构成了群岛中有关该物种的第一个记录。测试小鼠体内螨虫的患病率为 4%，低于其他哺乳动物（如狗、猫、土拨鼠和蝙蝠）报告的患病率。该值也低于在免疫功能低下的实验室个体或罗伯逊野生小鼠中获得的百分比，但与野生标准标本 (2n = 40) 确定的值相似。我们的结果似乎表明皮肤螨是金丝雀小鼠的罕见居民。此外，由于 Canary 小鼠仅携带通常感染小鼠的两种皮肤螨中的一种，因此 D. musculi 和 Myobia musculi 可能会受到宿主物种的限制，具体取决于栖息地。