The present study aims to evaluate the effect of anoplocephalid tapeworms mite infection on their distribution ecology and population structures. The data obtained revealed that seven species of oribatid mites collected from that chosen soil act as intermediate hosts of tapeworms of the Anoplocephalidae, as they were found to be infected by tapeworm cysticercoid. The most cited infected mite families were Oribatulidae with 5 species namely; Scheloribates laevigatus, S. zaheri, S. confundatus, Zygoribatula undulata and Z. niliaca. However, each of Galuminid and Haplozetid families is represented by only one infected species. These species are Galumna flabellifera and Xylobates lophotricus, respectively. From the parasitological point of view, the present study clarified the temporal variability of the intensity of infection among the infected mites, the prevalence of infection as well as the vertical distribution tendency of infected mites in natural habitats. According to mean intensity and prevalence of infection, the infected oribatid mites could be divided into four groups; 1- Low prevalence and heavily infected group. 2- High prevalence and heavily infected group. 3- High prevalence and moderately infected group. 4-High prevalence and lightly infected group and were found to be species dependent. The vertical distribution tendency of the infected mites is strongly correlated to the prevalence of infection.
Key words: Oribatid mites, Seasonal and Vertical distribution, Anoplocephalidae, Desert ecosystem, Egypt
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