Demodex sp. infesting tongue, esophagus, and oral cavity of Onychomys leucogaster, the grasshopper mouse

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 59; no. 5; pp. 893 - 896
• Main Authors: Nutting, W.B, Satterfield, L.C, Cosgrove, G.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Parasitologists 01-10-1973
• Subjects: Animals; arthropod pests; Digestive tract; Epithelium; Esophagus; Esophagus - pathology; Female; Infestation; Keratins; Larva; Male; Male animals; medical entomology; Mite Infestations - pathology; Mite Infestations - veterinary; Mites; Mouth; Mouth - pathology; Nymph; Parasite hosts; Rodent Diseases - pathology; Rodentia; Sebaceous Glands; Tongue - pathology; veterinary entomology
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.2307/3278430

In 9 of 11 host animals mites were in the tongue epithelium. The epithelium of the esophagus was invaded in 4 of 14 host animals. Demodicids were also found in the oral mucosa. In all cases the mites were minor pathogens-apparently harvesting cells of the epidermis. These discoveries suggest that demodicids may be transferred between host individuals during the grooming process. Further, the absence of sebaceous glands adjacent to the mites in the anterior digestive tract indicates that sebum is not an essential nutritive source in this mite species.