Diversity of Allergenic and Parasitic Mites in the Surroundings of Alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Alpaca farming and alpaca-assisted activities are becoming increasingly popular in Poland. However, information on allergenic and parasitic mites occurring in alpaca housing remains scarce. This study aimed to characterize mite diversity in litter and organic material from alpaca barns and to identify taxa of potential veterinary and medical importance. In total, 17 samples were collected from alpaca barns in south-western Poland and examined using the Berlese–Tullgren extraction method followed by microscopic identification. A total of 411 mites were collected, with mites detected in all samples. Astigmatina was the predominant group, while Cheyletidae also constituted a substantial proportion of the acarofauna. Among Astigmatina, the most dominant species were Lepidoglyphus destructor (37.7%), Acarus immobilis (24.6%), and Acarus farris (13.8%), all representing taxa associated with allergenic exposure. Parasitic Chorioptes spp. mites were also detected in barn litter. Mite abundance differed significantly among lower taxonomic groups (negative binomial generalized linear model, χ2 = 38.71, df = 10, p < 0.001), although pairwise post hoc comparisons were not significant after Holm correction. These findings demonstrate the presence of allergenic and parasitic mites in alpaca housing and indicate that barn litter may represent a potential source of exposure relevant to alpaca health and people in close contact with these animals.