Systematic placement of some taxa in the family Galumnidae (Acari, Oribatida)

Although a few species have been recorded in Iran, many species from the family Galumnidae remained undiscovered, and in this work we describe six new species and redescribe one known species from the northern part of the country. They are Acrogalumna lanceolata sp. nov., Allogalumna dentirostrata sp. nov., Galumna granulimorpha sp. nov., Galumna triangulata sp. nov., Galumna iranensis Mahunka et Akrami, 2001, Pergalumna iunctiporosa sp. nov., Pergalumna microtuberculata sp. nov., and the description of each species is accompanied with detailed illustrations. We also present data on habitat and biogeography of Iranian species of Galumnidae, and a key is provided for identification of all recorded species in this country.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D31C04EF-57C0-4D3F-9F06-0389EB618409

Ticks are cosmopolitan vectors of numerous diseases, and detection of various pathogens in ticks can help to assess their distribution. In the current study, 528 adult ticks were collected from grazing animals or the ground in ten different Mongolian provinces. Dermacentor nuttalli constituted 76.1% of them and was found in all ecozones except the eastern desert. Dermacentor marginatus (8.3%), Dermacentor silvarum (1.1%) and Ixodes persulcatus (3.0%) were found in the northern forest areas and Hyalomma asiaticum (11.4%) only in the southern (semi-)desert. Of these, 359 ticks were subjected to DNA extraction and PCR was carried out to detect various pathogens. Anaplasma spp. was found in D. marginatus and D. nuttalli (2.5% positive each), including flagged specimen and identified as Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Borrelia spp. were found in 2.5% of the ticks (mostly in I. persulcatus) and identified as Borrelia garinii. Babesia spp. (40%) identified as Babesia caballi were detected in all five tick species including flagged Dermacentor spp. and I. persulcatus, and 3.5% of the ticks (all species except D. silvarum) were positive for Theileria spp. identified as Theileria equi. The piroplasms were found in all provinces. Tick-borne encephalitis virus was not detected. The results highlight the high risk of equine piroplasmosis in Mongolia, which is a concern for both the nomadic population who rely on horses for transport and for conservation of Przewalski’s horses in Mongolia. In addition, zoonotic agents such as the avian B. garinii and A. phagocytophilum were also detected, outlining a high risk for exposed humans.

Three species of oribatid mites, Camisia dictyna Colloff, 1993 Colloff, M. J. 1993. A taxonomic revision of the oribatid mite genus Camisia (Acari: Oribatida). J. Nat. Hist, 27: 1325–1408. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] , Ceratoppia sphaerica (L. Koch, 1879 Koch, L. 1879. Arachniden aus Sibirien und Novaja Zemlja, eingesammelt von der Schwedischen Expedition im Jahre 1875. Kongl. Svenska Vet. Handl, 16(5): 1–136. [Google Scholar] ) and Diapterobates notatus (Thorell, 1871 Thorell, T. 1871. Om Arachnider fran Spitzbergen och Beeren-Eiland. Öfvers. Kongl. Vet. Akad. Förh, 28: 683–702. [Google Scholar] ) are studied in detail, and their supplementary descriptions with precise illustrations are presented. The specimens were collected from the soils of the Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis Linnaeus, 1758) nest site areas in the Arctic archipelago Svalbard. Camisia dictyna is recorded as new to the fauna of this region. A revised checklist of all recorded oribatid mite species in Svalbard is presented with additional remarks on their taxonomic status, habitat preferences and geographical distribution. The patterns of taxonomic diversity and geographical distribution reveal that although the majority of the species are cryophilous, there are only few species that are geographically restricted to Svalbard and adjacent regions.