A new species of Demodex (Acari: Demodecidae) from the skin of golden-handed tamarins, Saguinus midas (Primates: Cebidae)

Abstract

Two captive-bred golden-handed tamarins, Saguinus midas L., 1758 (Primates: Cebidae), kept in households in Japan, presented with psoriasis-like plaques on their faces, along with scale, alopecia, and itching. Histopathological examination revealed numerous Demodex mites in the hair follicles, and the clinical symptoms in both cases improved after treatment with fluralaner. Based on the morphological and genetic characteristics of the mites collected from tamarins, we describe a new species of Demodex. This new species is the fifth valid Demodex species recorded from primates.

Keywords

• Demodex midae n. sp.
• Demodectic mange
• Fluralaner: golden-handed tamarin
• Histopathology
• Sequence analysis