Ultrastructure and analytical microprobe analysis of simian lung mite pigments

In recent years, non-human primates have become indispensable as experimental animals in many fields of biomedical research. Pharmaceutical and related industries alone use about 2000,000 primates a year. Respiratory mite infestations in lungs of old world monkeys are of particular concern because the resulting tissue damage can directly effect experimental results, especially in those studies involving the cardiopulmonary system. There has been increasing documentation of primate parasitology in the past twenty years.

Electron Microscopy of Simian Lung Mites (Pneumonyssus Simicola)

Despite the demonstrated high incidence of lung mite infection in Old World monkeys, almost nothing is known of the life history and physiology of the parasite or the pathogenesis or the ecology of the disease. It is recognized that international quarantine regulation would not prevent importation of internal parasite such as lung mite. This raises serious concern as ticks and mites are arthropod which serve as both true reservoir and vectors.There is no published work of the ultrasturcture of Mesostigmata organs or tissues. In addition, urgent needs exist to rule out the possibility of this parasite acting as possible vector of unknown pathogens which has not been introduced to this country.

Histochemistry of the lung mite pigment in infections ofPneumonyssussp. in non-human Primates

Histochemical analyses of the pigment accompanying lung mite infections in Old World monkeys indicate that, contrary to other endogeneous pigments, this pigment is not homogenous, but consists of at least three components. One fraction is formed by fine granular or amorphous cleavage products of mucin substances, the second portion appears to be large granules of haemosiderin and/or lipofuscin, and the third component consists of needle-like crystals of unknown chemical nature. The source and nature of the pigment are discussed.I am grateful for the technical assistance of Mrs J. A. Silva and the support by Drs R. T. Damian, S. S. Kalter, R. E. Kuntz and B. J. Myers; Southwest Foundation for Research and Education, San Antonio, Texas.This study was funded in part by U.S.P.H.S. Grants RR-00361, RR-00278 and RR-00451 and WHO Grant Z2/181/27.