Inventarisasi Tungau Ektoparasit Kadal Eutropis multifasciata di IPB Dramaga dan Gunung Salak Endah

Abstract

Life of each organism is influenced by the life of other organisms, thus forming the interaction between the two. Parasitism is a symbiosis between organisms that live and rely on other organisms and are detrimental to the host, for example the ectoparasite that infest Eutropis multifasciata lizard (Family Scincidae). Ectoparasites are defines as organisms that live on the surface of the host, sucking blood, or find food in the hair, fur, skin, or skin secretions. This study was aimed to explore the ectoparasite mites on E. multifasciata lizard in Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) Dramaga and Salak Endah Mountain, West Java. Observations were carried out for the parts of lizard body that were infested by the mites. Whole mount polyvinillactophenol slide were prepared for mites identification. The results showed that most mite infestations on lizard E. multifasciata were found in the body surface i.e. at stomach, rear legs and the base of the rear legs region, for 43, 22, 19 mites, respectively. This study found five mites families infested E. multifasciata lizard i.e. Trombiculidae, Erythraeidae, Microgyniidae, Ixodorhynchidae, Paramegistidae. Several mites from the family Trombiculidae and Erythraeidae were also existed in larvae and nymphs phase. The dominant mites that infested on E. multifasciata were Trombiculidae which was mostly infested by the larval stage. Based on the previous study, the development process of Trombiculidae mites from egg up to imago was outside the host (in the grass and ground litter). This study result is a particularly important founding since Trombiculidae mites is possible to become the agent of Trombiculiasis disease which cause irritation, swelling and itching in the skin.