Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) as intermediate hosts of tapeworms of the Family Anoplocephalidae (Cestoda) and the transmission of Moniezia expansa cysticercoids in South Africa

Six species of adult oribatid mites (Galumna racilis, Kilimabates pilosus, Kilimabates so., Scheloribates fusifer, Muliercula ngoyensis and Zygoribatu la undulata) and two immature stages belonging to the superfamilies Galumno idea and Ceratozetoidea were isolated from a lawn (mixed Pennisetum and Cyn odon spp.) at Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa. The mites w ere subsequently used in an infection trial using Moniezia expansa eggs. Ta peworm cysticercoids were recovered in G. racilis, K. pilosus, Kilimabates sp., S. fusifer, M. ngoyensis and Z. undulata, as well as in immatures of C eratozetoidea. The percentage of infected mites was 7,6, 6,3, 16,4, 66,7, 5 7,1, 60,0 and 46,7% respectively. Immatures of Galumnoidea did not become i nfected. The highest number of cysticercoids isolated from one individual w as six from an adult S. fusifer.