Subcutaneous mite. Subcutaneous mite (skin scabies) - skin diseases - this is interesting - guinea pig nursery "Profik" Water mite

1. Water wheels FrolovIn 1817, the French government founded in Saint-Etienne High school mining sciences. When the first intake of students took place, very little was known about the school. Only eight people entered the first year, mostly natives

WATER SPIRITS

WATER SPIRITS Asrai, or Water-fairies. There are two almost identical tales from Cheshire and Shropshire. In both, the fisherman pulls out the asrai in the net and places it on the bottom of the boat. The creature begs for freedom, but the fisherman does not understand its language. In the Cheshire version, the fisherman ties From the book Big Soviet Encyclopedia(VO) of the author TSB

Most types of ticks are dangerous to humans and animals, so it is customary to treat them with caution. However, ticks do not only live on land; some of them are inhabitants of the aquatic environment. Let's figure out how to recognize a water mite and whether it is dangerous for humans.

Types of water mites and their habitats

Sometimes water mites are mistakenly classified as insects, but in fact all of their representatives are arachnids. There are two families of hydracarynes, which include more than 4 thousand species.

On the territory of Russia, biologists count at least 500 species of representatives of hydracarines.

Water mite families:

• Hydrachnidae (freshwater);
• Halacaridae (live in sea ​​water).

Representatives of the family Hydrachnidae live in fresh water bodies, rivers and ponds. Since they are predators, then greatest number individuals can be found in swampy reservoirs, where there are many small invertebrates. Water mites are primarily free-living predators that prefer small bodies of water filled with zooplankton

Water temperature is not particularly important for water mites. For example, representatives of Hydrachnidae can be seen even in icy water, freed from ice crust.

At all, appearance water mites are quite brightly colored. Hydracarine bodies can be distinguished with the naked eye, as they have a color from yellow to bright red.

IN sea ​​elements The most common water mites are Atax ypsilophorus. They are distinguished by a large (up to 8–9 mm in length) body and long legs, with the help of which they move in the water.
The water mite Atax ypsilophorus is also called Unionicola

Most often they can be seen in the coastal zone, where hydracarynes hunt bivalves. With directional lighting, they become not very noticeable in the water, because they have a bluish body.

A representative of this species is an excellent hunter: having noticed the prey, it rushes at it and entwines it with its long legs, on the surface of which there are miniature notches that do not allow the mollusk to escape. For this reason, the behavior of the water mite Atax ypsilophorus is very similar to the strategy of its terrestrial counterparts - spiders.

Body structure of a water mite

Hydracarines, like all arachnids, have four pairs of legs. At the end of each leg there are two claws, which allow the individual to crawl and capture prey, as well as swimming hairs, used for movement in the water.

The body is often round and consists of a cephalothorax and abdomen, which are visually almost fused together. Depending on the species, the water mite has either two or four eyes. Biological scientists believe that the eyes of hydrocarine, protected by durable chitin capsules, see perfectly even in muddy water, which gives predators an advantage.

Chelicerae and pedipalps help mites absorb and retain food. The palps hold the prey near the mouth, and the claws of the chelicerae pierce the skin or chitinous shell, after which the water mite sucks out the prey.
The fourth pair of legs in hydrocarina is usually longer than the others, this is due to the fact that during movement they carry out pushing activity

They breathe using the entire surface of the body. The tick absorbs oxygen dissolved in water and survives even at extremely low concentrations (1 part per million).

It is noteworthy that water mites are completely absent circulatory system. Also, their body does not have a hindgut and anus. These organs are replaced by an excretory opening located immediately above the intestines.

Life cycle of hydrocarine

The average lifespan of a water mite is just over a year. Copulation (reproduction) begins in the spring, since in winter time hydrocarines are not very active. In winter, most hydrocarines are in the nymphal (larval) stage of development.
In a favorable environment, water mites are prone to excessive reproduction; due to their accumulations, water in small bodies of water can acquire a reddish-brown tint.

Reproduction strategy different types mites can vary significantly. For example, males of the species Piona nodata can swim for a long time, looking for a female and lowering the claws of the third pair of legs into a special pocket on the abdomen where seminal fluid accumulates. Having noticed a female of its species, the tick quickly swims up to her and transfers the seed into her genital opening.

But males of the Arrhenurus species behave differently. Arrenurus females have significantly big sizes bodies, so males have to resort to a trick: they attach themselves to the lower part of the abdomen with the help of a sticky secretion, after which mating occurs and the seminal fluid is introduced into the genital opening.

After fertilization, females of some species (Limnochares aquatica, Eylais), mainly living in stagnant water of swamps and small ponds, lay a clutch of eggs on underwater snags, stones or plant roots. The same mites that live in flowing water firmly attach a clutch of eggs to plant stems. Those hydrocarines who live in sea water find coastal stones immersed in water and parts of underwater structures (piles, bridges, etc.) for these purposes.

During the entire cycle, the water mite forms and sheds two molt skins, and also passes through three nymphal (larval) stages.

Harm of water mites and their danger to humans

But water mites are dangerous for small invertebrates. Chitons, water scorpions, water-loving beetles, sea ​​urchins, mussels, mollusks, daphnia, cyclops, bloodworm larvae - they all have to serve as food or host for hydrocarinae.

Video: a tick tries to get out of a test tube with water

The smooth water bug and its relationship to hydrocarines

Unlike hydrocarinae, water bugs can inflict very sensitive bites on humans. They are similar to water mites in their predatory lifestyle, but differ in classification.
The smooth water bug is significantly larger in size than hydrocarine; its body can reach 15 mm

Water mites belong to the arachnids, and smooth bugs belong to insects from the order Hemiptera of the smooth family. They are much more aggressive and dangerous to their neighbors in the pond. Large individuals calmly attack their own young or even fish fry. Their development cycle is also incredibly complex: smoothie bugs go through four nymphal stages, each time significantly increasing in size.

IN dark time days, these insects are attracted to bright light, so they often leave aquatic environment habitat, which allows them to make powerful wings.

These water bugs bite very painfully. In children and those who are prone to developing allergic reactions, the bite site may become very red and itch for a long time. Therefore, it is better not to touch this insect with your hands and not to swim in those places where clusters of water bugs are observed. In the evening, a protective spray will help protect yourself from flying smoothies. If the bug does bite and this area of ​​the skin itches and swells, then antihistamines (for example, fenistil) or hormonal (hydrocortisone) ointments will help. Aloe juice is also effective, it relieves itching and redness.

Water mites in an aquarium or pond and how to get rid of them

Fish usually do not consider hydrocarine as food; this can only happen under conditions of very limited nutrition. Aquarists even notice that if a fish accidentally swallows a water mite, it spits it out almost immediately.

Ridding your aquarium of pests is not that difficult. The bright color of hydrocarine helps a lot with this. Although they are generally small in size, red or orange tint bodies makes them easy to see with the naked eye.

The main thing in getting rid of water mites is to regularly maintain cleanliness in the aquarium. If you noticed a large number of hydrocarine, then conventional measures will not be enough and a complete cleaning of the entire tank will be required.

Detailed instructions for ridding an aquarium of water mites:

Remember that the sponge for cleaning the aquarium can only be used once, after which it should be thrown away. Otherwise, water mite eggs may get back inside the tank.

This method of completely changing the soil, water and sterilizing the tank parts is effective for getting rid of water mites in the aquarium. But if hydrocarinas have chosen a decorative pond to live in, then it is necessary to act in a different way. Moreover, ultraviolet sterilizers in this case are ineffective.

Chlorophos is successfully used to destroy water mites in a closed small reservoir.
Chlorophos is an organophosphorus compound that is an insectoacaricidal agent

When working with chlorophos, you must remember following measures precautions:

• under no circumstances may any processing be carried out decorative pond at air temperatures above 25°;
• application of the insecticide should be done on the leeward side;
• preparation of the solution and all work with chlorophos must be carried out in a well-ventilated area and using personal protective equipment (gloves, mask, goggles);
• Persons with diagnosed diseases of the cardiovascular system and hematopoietic organs should not work with insecticides.

The principle of action of the drug is not only to destroy water mites, but also to eliminate zooplankton, which is the main food of the pest.

Instructions for treating a decorative pond with chlorophos solution:

I heard about water mites not long ago from a friend who became interested in aquarium farming. Before this, I thought that ticks were exclusively a ground problem. It turned out that these tiny red balls with long legs are the most dangerous enemy small invertebrates. The good news is that hydrocarines are harmless to humans and pose no danger to them at all. But in the aquarium they are in the role ruthless killers, eating crustaceans and water fleas, which are intended as food for ornamental fish. Pests are quite visible to the naked eye - small bright red spiders dot the aquarium plants or move in water using movable long legs. If measures are not taken in time, then in a closed aquarium system they can increase the population several times in a short period of time and become a threat to the entire community, upsetting the balance.

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In the forest you can find insects and animals. They are different sizes and color. Some of them pose a danger to humans, so it is advisable to avoid any contact even with small animals. For example, many are afraid of the one that lives in bodies of water.

Many people believe that ticks are insects. In fact, they are animals and belong to the subclass of arthropods from the class of arachnids. Representatives can live in fresh water, and in the sea.

Of particular interest are water mites, which have a characteristic appearance:

• four pairs of legs;
• a rounded body that consists of an abdomen connected to a small head;
• size does not exceed 3 mm.

The body is bright, often colored bright yellow or red. Some individuals are decorated with ornaments. Their large concentrations are easy to spot. The jaws are very developed, the tentacles are equipped with hooks or bristles - they help move through the water. They have two or four eyes. Scientists are confident that these small creatures have excellent vision, which allows them to easily navigate in muddy water.

Habitat

Representatives of water mites are widespread. They live in the following places:

• ponds;
• swamps;
• river backwaters;
• puddles.

Features of physiology

Ticks have a rather bright appearance, which is easy to notice in the water surface. One might assume that they are easy prey for other species, but this is not entirely true. Arthropods are rarely found in the stomachs of fish, and scientists have repeatedly noticed that if a fish grabs a tick, it spits it out almost immediately. This is due to the ability of arthropods to secrete poisonous or unpleasant-tasting liquid from their glands. Therefore, small creatures rarely become prey to large aquatic predators. Bright color acts as a warning.

They swim well in water; it is enough to place one individual in a jar of liquid and you can observe chaotic and rapid movements. Some representatives only crawl on aquatic plants, and therefore lead an exclusively bottom-dwelling lifestyle. Ticks are predators and feed on zooplankton and invertebrates. The basis of nutrition is daphnia, cyclops and other small animals. The tick grabs the victim with its jaws and sticks to it.

Mature females lay eggs on stones and underwater plants. Most often, the clutch is laid in a heap, rather than attaching one egg at a time. The clusters are colored yellow or bright red, so they are easily visible on the surface. The larvae choose water striders, swimming beetles, water scorpions, and, less commonly, dragonflies and dipterans as hosts.

A water bug is often mistaken for a tick. He has a similar lifestyle as most spends time in the pond. But he is not even a relative. The bug is larger, it has three pairs of legs. It does not pose any threat to humans, but you should not grab it with your hands, as the insect can bite strongly. In rare cases, this leads to allergic reactions. Lives only in freshwater. Most often it spends time on the surface of the water; if desired, it dives into the depths, but this takes serious effort.

Danger to humans

IN summer time many people prefer to swim in different bodies of water. Observant individuals can spot bright red dots on the water. In fact, water mites do not pose any danger to humans. They don’t stick, bite or crawl into different cavities, so you don’t have to be afraid of them.

There is a common misconception that ticks lay eggs on the human body. This does not apply to water creatures. As feed object They are also not interested in people, since their jaws are adapted only for zooplankton and invertebrates.

The main threat is terrestrial. Argasidae prefer to settle on animals and birds. They are quite large and can reach a length of 30 mm. They can be found in nests, cracks, and burrows. One bite can infect a person with typhus; the puncture site will itch and hurt for several weeks.

Scabies mites are difficult to detect with the naked eye. It is transmitted from human contact with another person. As a rule, a fertilized female passes, which, when a new host appears, lays eggs under the skin. The larvae are actively hatching and spreading. After which the person exhibits the first symptoms of scabies.

Forest ticks pose a great danger, as they can be carriers of encephalitis and Lyme disease. They quietly attach themselves, and the virus enters the human blood. Therefore, if an arthropod is detected, you should immediately contact the nearest hospital, where they will take the tick for analysis and, if necessary, give an injection of immunoglobulin.

Scabies mite (subcutaneous mite) - Trixacarus caviae
These microscopic mites hide under the skin and cause serious pain. You may notice scratches on the skin, the pig will bite itself with its teeth, and its hair will fall out. Serious infestations can be life-threatening. If you suspect that one of your pets is sick with a subcutaneous tick, examine the others as soon as possible. Ivermectin, Otodectin, Novomek, Ivermec - a drug for quick assistance. Several injections of the drug are necessary because these drugs do not kill the eggs laid by females under the skin.
Subcutaneous mites, which appear in guinea pigs, cannot reproduce or live on humans.
Death of a guinea pig can occur due to severe dehydration, increasingly large wounds, and failure to eat due to extreme pain and discomfort. In a healthy animal, the mite may lie dormant for months or years, becoming a problem in a pregnant guinea pig, a weakened animal during another illness, or after stress. The most serious infestations occur in babies or very old animals, whose immunity is most weakened. The disease in animals of other ages is no less serious, possibly due to poor care or weakened immunity.
The scabies mite (Trixacarus caviae) is an arachnid insect. Infection occurs primarily through direct contact with infected animals, although eggs can be introduced through carelessness. Ticks rarely leave their host, usually as a result of overcrowding or the death of the tick host. Without a host, they usually die within 3 weeks. However, eggs that were laid in burrows in the skin can live for a long time.
Signs: Microscopic mites cause unbearable itching in the pet and can lead to thinning and/or patchy hair loss, flaking skin (can resemble dandruff) and eventually open sores resulting from vigorous scratching that increases hair loss. Scratching an area of ​​skin infested with mites can cause such pain and itching in your guinea pig that the animal falls on its back squealing and begins to convulse.
While skin scraping can confirm mites, it is often not done. Because this procedure is very painful for the guinea pig and is completely unreliable. Often, a veterinarian will use Ivermectin (and analogues) for severe itching and hair loss, in the treatment of another disease (such as fungal infection) when there is no improvement with treatment. It is important to note that your guinea pig may be suffering from several conditions at the same time.
Diagnosis: Sometimes a veterinarian will completely misdiagnose a mite infestation based solely on the results of a skin scraping.
Example:
"A guinea pig was brought in for treatment with severe scratching. The vet ruled out mites when he did not find any in the skin scrapings. He prescribed treatment for a fungal and yeast infection, sent samples to the laboratory, did a skin biopsy, and felt that he had already investigated every possibility . The guinea pig had already been under anesthesia twice when taking samples. During this time, the guinea pig (who had already lost most of her hair) was in unbearable pain, with wounds, and no improvement. After a few weeks, the condition only worsened. The veterinarian finally suggested giving injections with Ivermectin in case it was ticks. The results were immediate."

If you suspect a subcutaneous tick disease, do everything to cure your animal.
Scabies mites can cause the death of an animal!
Treatment: in case of tick infestation, an injection of Ivermectin (Otodectin) is given under the withers. Two or more injections are required, 7 to 10 days apart. Ivermectin is best not used on guinea pigs weighing less than 340 grams. Otodectin is designed for use in small animals and is suitable for the treatment of baby guinea pigs who have stopped suckling their mother. This medicine must be used in a strictly calculated dose.

A good veterinarian should be familiar with the drug and know what doses are considered safe for guinea pigs. Supervision by a competent physician will ensure that the use of this drug is necessary. The veterinarian may also treat open wounds and wounds caused by scratching and other complications associated with infestation. Keep nails trimmed to minimize further damage from scratching.The dosage of Ivermectin (Otodectin) is calculated in milligrams per kilogram of weight for different types of animals. Therefore, it is necessary to know the weight of the animal. Your veterinarian should know how to calculate the correct dosage.Once the mites have been properly diagnosed, all of your guinea pigs will need to be treated and their living quarters should be completely cleaned. Avoid future infestations by carefully examining newly acquired new animals and quarantining them if you suspect they came from an unsafe breeding facility. Breeders usually quarantine new gilts (as they can carry mites without showing signs of illness). It is better to prevent new arrivals from subcutaneous mites than to risk introducing them to a whole herd of guinea pigs.Do not use flea powders, sprays, special soaps, or wool soaks - many contain harmful substances that are dangerous for pigs. Read the ingredients. Some of these products have caused death. If your pet has ticks,USE IVERMECTIN (OTODECTIN, NOVOMEK, IVERMEC). Correctly calculated dosage of these drugs is much effective.

Scabies mite (subcutaneous mite) -

Trixacarus caviae

These microscopic mites hide under the skin and cause serious pain. You may notice scratches on the skin, mumps willmyselfbiting with teeth, her fur falls out. Serious infestations can be life-threatening. If you suspect that one of your pets is sick with a subcutaneous tick, examine the others as soon as possible. Ivermectin, Otodectin, Novomek, Ivermec - a drug for quick assistance. Several injections of the drug are necessary because these drugs do not kill the eggs laid by females under the skin.

Subcutaneous mites, which appear in guinea pigs, cannot reproduce or live on humans.

Death of a guinea pig can occur due to severe dehydration, increasingly large wounds, and failure to eat due to extreme pain and discomfort. In a healthy animal, the mite may lie dormant for months or years, becoming a problem in a pregnant guinea pig, a weakened animal during another illness, or after stress. The most serious infestations occur in babies or very old animals, whose immunity is most weakened. The disease in animals of other ages is no less serious, possibly due to poor care or weakened immunity.

Scabies mite (Trixacarus caviae) is an arachnid insect. Infection occurs primarily through direct contact with infected animals, although eggs can be introduced through carelessness. Ticks rarely leave their host, usually as a result of overcrowding or the death of the tick host. Without a host, they usually die within 3 weeks. However, eggs that were laid in burrows in the skin can live for a long time.

Photo - Kat .

Signs: The microscopic mites cause unbearable itching in the pet and can lead to thinning and/or patchy hair loss, flaking skin (can resemble dandruff) and eventually open sores resulting from vigorous scratching that increases hair loss. Scratching an area of ​​skin infested with mites can cause such pain and itching in your guinea pig that the animal falls on its back squealing and begins to convulse.

While skin scraping can confirm mites, it is often not done. Because this procedure is very painful for the guinea pig and is completely unreliable. Often, a veterinarian will use Ivermectin (and analogues) for severe itching and hair loss, when treating another condition (such as a fungal infection), when there is no improvement with treatment. It is important to note that your guinea pig may be suffering from several conditions at the same time.

Diagnostics: Sometimes a veterinarian will completely misdiagnose a mite infestation based solely on the results of a skin scraping.

Example:

"A guinea pig was brought in for treatment with severe scratching. The vet ruled out mites when he did not find any in the skin scrapings. He prescribed treatment for a fungal and yeast infection, sent samples to the laboratory, did a skin biopsy, and felt that he had already investigated every possibility . The guinea pig had already been under anesthesia twice when taking samples. During this time, the guinea pig (who had already lost most of her hair) was in unbearable pain, with wounds, and no improvement. After a few weeks, the condition only worsened. The veterinarian finally suggested giving injections with Ivermectin in case it was ticks. The results were immediate."

If you suspect a subcutaneous tick disease, do everything to cure your animal.

Scabies mites can cause the death of an animal!

Treatment: In case of mite infestation, an injection is givenIvermectin (Otodectin ) under the withers. Two or more injections are required, 7 to 10 days apart. Ivermectin is best not used on guinea pigs weighing less than 340 grams. Otodectin is designed for use in small animals and is suitable for the treatment of baby guinea pigs who have stopped suckling their mother. This medicine must be used in a strictly calculated dose. A good veterinarian should be familiar with the drug and know what doses are considered safe for guinea pigs. Supervision by a competent physician will ensure that the use of this drug is necessary. The veterinarian may also treat open wounds and wounds caused by scratching and other complications associated with infestation. Keep nails trimmed to minimize further damage from scratching.

Calculate dosageIvermectina (Otodectina) in milligrams per kilogram of weight, for different types of animals. Therefore, it is necessary to know the weight of the animal. Your veterinarian should know how to calculate the correct dosage.

Once the mites have been properly diagnosed, all of your guinea pigs will need to be treated and their living quarters should be completely cleaned. Avoid future infestations by carefully examining newly acquired new animals and quarantining them if you suspect they came from an unsafe breeding facility. Breeders usually quarantine new gilts (as they can carry mites without showing signs of illness). It is better to prevent new arrivals from subcutaneous mites than to risk introducing them to a whole herd of guinea pigs.