Biology, Systematics, Microbiome, Pathogen Transmission and Control of Chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae) with Emphasis on the United States
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Chigger Biology
2.1. Life Cycle
2.2. Hosts and Habitat
2.3. Collecting Methods
2.3.1. Trapping Animals
2.3.2. Plate Method
2.3.3. Berlese Funnel
2.3.4. Light Trapping
2.4. Chigger Lab Rearing
3. Systematics Status
3.1. Taxonomy
3.2. Identification
4. Chigger Microbiome
5. Do Chiggers Transmit Rickettsia and Orientia in the US?
5.1. Summary of Zoonotic Bacteria and Viruses Transmitted by Chiggers
5.2. Role of Endosymbionts in Orientia Infection
6. Possible Misdiagnosis of Tick-Borne Diseases and Allergies
7. Chigger Control
8. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Country (Continent) | Different Chigger Species in GenBank | % * | Peer Reviewed Publications | Chigger Species Reported | Target Genes * |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laos (Asia) | 11 | 30.56 | [71] | Ascoschoengastia indica | COI |
Blankaartia acuscutellaris | COI | ||||
Leptotrombidium deliense | 18S, COI, whole genome shotgun | ||||
Microtrombicula chamlongi | COI | ||||
Schoengastia kanhaensis | COI | ||||
Walchia alpestris | COI | ||||
Walchia ewingi ewingi | COI | ||||
Walchia ewingi lupella | COI | ||||
Walchia kritochaeta | COI | ||||
Walchia micropelta | COI | ||||
Walchia minuscuta | COI | ||||
Thailand (Asia) | 1 | 2.78 | [72] | Leptotrombidium deliense | Mitochondrial (mt) DNA complete genome |
China (Asia) | 1 | 2.78 | [73] | Neoschoengastia gallinarum | small subunit rRNA, large subunit rRNA, 5.8S, internal transcribed spacer 2, large subunit rRNA, COI |
Korea (Asia) | 2 | 5.56 | [74] | Helenicula miyagawai | 18S |
Leptotrombidium scutellare | mt DNA complete genome, COI, 18S, 5.8S | ||||
Japan (Asia) | 1 | 2.78 | [75] | Leptotrombidium pallidum | COI, mt DNA complete genome, 5.8S, whole genome shotgun |
Malaysia (Asia) | 1 | 2.78 | [76] | Leptotrombidium fletcheri | mt DNA complete genome |
Canada (North America) | 1 | 2.78 | [77] | Neotrombicula microti | COI |
US (North America) | 1 | 2.78 | [69,70] | Eutrombicula splendens | large subunit rRNA, small subunit rRNA, 28S, 18S, Ef1-α, Srp54, Hsp70, COI |
Mexico (North America) | 1 | 2.78 | [70] | Acomatacarus arizonensis | 28S, 18S, COI, Ef1-α, Srp54, Hsp70 |
Brazil (South America) | 12 | 32.33 | [78,79] | Herpetacarus(Arisocerus) hertigi | small subunit rRNA |
Blankaartia sinnamaryi | small subunit rRNA | ||||
Eutrombicula daemoni | small subunit rRNA | ||||
Eutrombicula goeldii | small subunit rRNA | ||||
Eutrombicula tinami | small subunit rRNA | ||||
Fonsecia ewingi | 18S | ||||
Hannemania hepatica | 18S | ||||
Hannemania yungicola | 18S | ||||
Quadraseta brasiliensis | small subunit rRNA, 18S | ||||
Quadraseta pazca | small subunit rRNA | ||||
Quadraseta trapezoides | small subunit rRNA | ||||
Trombewingia bakeri | small subunit rRNA | ||||
Poland (Europe) | 3 | 8.33 | [80,81] | Hirsutiella zachvatkini | COI |
Miyatrombicula muris | COI | ||||
Neotrombicula inopinata | COI | ||||
Spain (Europe) | 1 | 2.78 | [82] | Morelacarus sp. | COI |
Madagascar (Africa) | 1 | 2.78 | [83] | Schoutedenichia microcebi | small subunit rRNA |
Scenarios | Methods of Avoiding Chigger Bites |
---|---|
When venturing into chigger habitat | Wear permethrin-treated clothing |
Apply repellents like DEET | |
Wear tightly woven long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes | |
Tuck shirts into pants, tuck pants into socks | |
Stay in the middle of the trail, avoid high bushes and tall grass | |
Avoid sitting directly on the ground | |
After you come inside | Remove clothing immediately and launder it in hot water |
Wipe down shoes and boots | |
Take a hot and soapy shower with a vigorous skin massage | |
Yard | Try to keep small mammals out of the yard by putting up a fence and keeping trash can lids secured |
keep turf short and vegetation trimmed |
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Chen, K.; Roe, R.M.; Ponnusamy, L. Biology, Systematics, Microbiome, Pathogen Transmission and Control of Chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae) with Emphasis on the United States. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 15147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215147
Chen K, Roe RM, Ponnusamy L. Biology, Systematics, Microbiome, Pathogen Transmission and Control of Chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae) with Emphasis on the United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(22):15147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215147
Chicago/Turabian StyleChen, Kaiying, R. Michael Roe, and Loganathan Ponnusamy. 2022. "Biology, Systematics, Microbiome, Pathogen Transmission and Control of Chiggers (Acari: Trombiculidae, Leeuwenhoekiidae) with Emphasis on the United States" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19, no. 22: 15147. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215147