Molecular detection of Moniezia spp. (Cestoda) in Pergalumna persica (Acari: Oribatida) in Iran

Some oribatid mites are intermediate hosts of anoplocephalid cestodes, where the cestodes complete their larval development in the bodies of these oribatid mites. In order to investigate the potential of oribatid mites as vectors of anoplocephalid cestodes, 64 species of these mites were collected from different pastures of Shiraz County (Fars Province, Iran) during 2010-12. Two predominant species, Pergalumna persica and Acrogalumna lanceolata, were selected for study of both laboratory and natural infections. For artificial infection, these two species were exposed separately to eggs of Moniezia expansa and Moniezia benedeni, which are the common anoplocephalid cestodes of sheep and cattle in the Shiraz region. In order to develop a PCR-based technique for identification and detection of these cestodes, species-specific primers were designed to amplify the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. We demonstrate that the mite P. persica can be infested by M. expansa and M. benedeni in the laboratory and it can be naturally infected by the former species; however cestodes were not detected in the mite A. lanceolata. This is the first record of P. persica as the intermediate host of anoplocephalid tapeworms.