Chigger mites of the genus Ericotrombidium (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) attacking pets in Europe

• Ericotrombidium is for the first time reported on pets in Europe.
• Ericotrombidium ibericense caused alopecia and pruritus in a cat in Portugal.
• Ericotrombidium geloti caused canine trombiculiasis in Crimea.

Diversity of chigger mites causing trombiculiasis of domestic animals and humans in Europe is greatly underestimated. A number of reports on the attacks of “harvest mite” (Neotrombicula autumnalis) could be based on misidentified chiggers from other species and genera. In this study descriptions of two cases of trombiculiasis are presented, which constitute the first report on the pets’ parasitism by the chigger genus Ericotrombidium in Europe. The species Ericotrombidium ibericense is for the first time reported in Portugal as a causative agent of the trombiculiasis entailed extensive alopecic lesions and pruritus in a cat. Ericotrombidium geloti is for the first time reported as a cause of canine trombiculiasis in Crimea. Presence of other Ericotrombidium species on man and domestic animals is highly probable in countries of the Mediterranean basin.