Oribatid mites as intermediate hosts of Thysanosoma actinioides (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae): a preliminary study.

Thysanosoma actinioides Diesing, 1834 (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) parasitizes domestic and wild herbivores, and its life cycle has not yet been completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of oribatid mites as intermediate hosts of T. actinioides. The work was carried out at a Merino sheep breeding farm situated in the Pre-Cordillera region near Bariloche City, Río Negro Province, Argentina. The proglottids of T. actinioides were obtained from feces of infected sheep. In the laboratory, they were placed in the plastic wells with oribatid mites. The species of oribatids used in this experimental trial were Zygoribatula striassima Hammer, 1962 (Family Oribatulidae) and Oribatella spp. Banks, 1895 (Family Oribatellidae). Both species became infected with larval stages of T. actinioides. However, the infective cysticercoid stage did not develop.