Integrative Faunistic, Ecological, and Molecular Study of Harpirhynchus dusbabeki and Blankaartia acucutellaris Associated with European Passerines

Abstract

Parasitic skin mites associated with wild birds are understudied members of host–parasite systems in Europe despite their ecological importance, potential role as disease vectors, and effects on host fitness. Using a multidisciplinary approach combining faunistic, ecological, and molecular methods, this study investigated two mite species that parasitize passerine birds in Hungary, Harpirhynchus dusbabeki and Blankaartia acuscutellaris. Birds were examined during field sampling conducted between 2022 and 2024 at bird ringing stations and through a nationwide volunteer bird-ringing network. Parasites were identified morphologically, prevalence patterns were analyzed statistically, and mitochondrial genetic data were used to assess phylogenetic relationships. The occurrence of H dusbabeki was recorded in Hungary for the first time, and its host spectrum was found to extend to multiple host species beyond its previously known primary host, the Bearded Reedling. Blankaartia acuscutellaris infested several passerine species, with a significantly elevated prevalence in Bearded Reedlings and markedly higher prevalence among juveniles. Genetic analyses revealed close relatedness between the Hungarian and Slovakian populations of B. acuscutellaris, but showed distinct genetic separation from morphologically identified conspecifics from Laos, Asia. These findings improve the understanding of mite–passerine associations in Central–Eastern Europe and highlight the value of integrating ecological and molecular approaches to reveal the patterns of host exploitation and geographic differentiation in parasitic mites.