Prevalence and host-parasite list of some nasal mites from birds (Acarina: Rhinonyssidae, Speleognathidae).

A survey of nasal mites, primarily from birds in Texas, was reported and comparisons with the other major studies were made. Of 103 host species examined, 40 were parasitized, and of 502 individual birds examined, 87 were parasitized (17% prevalence). It was shown that the prevalence of infection was significantly dependent on the bird taxa examined, which indicates that the evolution of the hosts has affected the nasal mites' ability to parasitize their avian hosts. It was also shown that the prevalence of rhinonyssid nasal mites in their hosts seems to differ significantly between geographic regions.