title: Chigger mites of the genus Ericotrombidium (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) attacking pets in Europe.
abstract: Diversity of chigger mites causing trombiculiasis of domestic animals and humans in Europe is greatly underestimated. A number of reports on the attacks of "harvest mite" (Neotrombicula autumnalis) could be based on misidentified chiggers from other species and genera. In this study descriptions of two cases of trombiculiasis are presented, which constitute the first report on the pets' parasitism by the chigger genus Ericotrombidium in Europe. The species Ericotrombidium ibericense is for the first time reported in Portugal as a causative agent of the trombiculiasis entailed extensive alopecic lesions and pruritus in a cat. Ericotrombidium geloti is for the first time reported as a cause of canine trombiculiasis in Crimea. Presence of other Ericotrombidium species on man and domestic animals is highly probable in countries of the Mediterranean basin.
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Embankment, 1, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia. Electronic address: Alexandr.Stekolnikov@zin.ru.
authors.forename: Alexandr A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Stekolnikov
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Rua General Morais Sarmento, Lisbon 1500-311, Portugal. Electronic address: helga.waap@iniav.pt.
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waap
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Rua General Morais Sarmento, Lisbon 1500-311, Portugal. Electronic address: jacinto.gomes@iniav.pt.
authors.forename: Jacinto
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Centro Veterinário MyVet, Rua Manuel Inácio, 9 B, Alto da Terrugem, Paço de Arcos 2770-223, Portugal. Electronic address: taniaantunesvet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014323:Trombiculiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D014324:Trombiculidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification
keywords: Cat parasites; Crimea; Dog parasites; Portugal; Trombiculiasis