Dermanyssus gallinae
Dermanyssus gallinae | |
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Other names | Red mite, poultry mite, red poultry mite, roost mite, chicken mite |
Female Dermanyssus gallinae with "stiletto-shaped mandibles" | |
Specialty | Veterinary medicine, infectious disease |
Dermanyssus gallinae (also known as the red mite) is an ectoparasite of poultry and has been implicated as a vector of several major pathogenic diseases.[1] Despite its common names, it has a wide range of hosts including several species of wild birds and mammals including humans.[2] In both size and appearance, it resembles the northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum.[3]
Signs and symptoms
The mites normally feed around the breast and legs of hens, causing pain, irritation, and a decrease in egg production. Pustules, scabs, hyperpigmentation and feather loss may develop.
If they are present in large numbers, D. gallinae can cause anemia in hens which presents as pallor of the comb and wattle.
Cause
Dermanyssus gallinae | |
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Scientific classification | |
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Species: | D. gallinae
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Binomial name | |
Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778)
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D. gallinae is an obligate blood feeder that will normally attack its host at night, but will occasionally feed during the day. Adults (0.75–1 mm long) have long legs and usually a grayish- white body, which becomes reddish-brown when engorged.[4] After feeding, they hide in cracks and crevices away from light sources, where they mate and lay eggs. The mite progresses through 5 life stages: egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. Under favourable conditions this life cycle can be completed within seven days, so populations can grow rapidly - causing anaemia in badly affected flocks of poultry. Young birds are most susceptible. The mites can also affect the health of the birds indirectly, as they may serve as vectors for diseases such as Salmonellosis, avian spirochaetosis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.[5] Red mites can survive for up to 10 months in an empty hen house, temperatures greater than 45 °C/113 °F and less than -20 °C/-4 °F, have been found to be lethal.[6]
Diagnosis
A presumptive diagnosis can be made in flocks of laying hens, usually based on a history of decreasing egg production, anaemia and mortalities in young or ill birds. Blood spots on eggs indicate infestation within the cloaca of an affected hen. Definitive diagnosis is only achieved following identification of eggs, feces or the mites themselves.
Prevention and treatment
There are several methods for preventing infestation in hen houses including:
- Heating the henhouse to temperatures above 55 °C (131 °F).
- Regular washing down of the housing system.
- Treatment of the walls and floors with silica dust or carbolineum prior to introduction of the new hens.[7]
Prevention of infestation in human habitation consists of eliminating potential vectors such as destroying pigeon and sparrow nests[8] and treating infested backyard poultry.[9]
Predatory mites such as Androlaelaps casalis and Hypoaspis miles can be used to control D. gallinae populations.[10] Ectoparasiticides can be used to treat affected poultry, these chemical controls, if used, should be used in rotation to avoid the buildup of resistance.[11] The insecticide spinosad is effective against mites resistant to the veteran acaricides and can even be used on premises in the presence of the laying hens.[12] A novel product, Exzolt was introduced in the EU in 2017,[13] it contains fluralaner, an isoxazoline, and is highly effective against D. gallinae, included those resistant to old acaricides. It is approved for oral administration mixed with the drinking water and has a systemic mode of action, i.e. it acts through the blood of the treated birds.[13]
Elimination of an infestation in a human habitation is best achieved through a combination of eliminating potential vectors (nesting pigeons, backyard poultry, etc.); reducing potential hiding places (rugs, clutter); judicious use of pesticides; consistent use of dehumidifiers to maintain a low humidity environment; maintaining a low temperature in the environment; frequent thorough cleaning; minimizing the amount of time spent in the home; and maintaining excellent hygiene. Treatment of infestation may require topical and oral medication such as ivermectin (although this has been found to be ineffective)[14] and may require several months to eradicate.
Vaccines are currently under active development for the treatment of poultry, which seek to "stimulate a protective response" in the birds and increase D. gallinae mortality.[15]
Other animals
D. gallinae will also bite mammals, including cats, dogs, rodents, rabbits, horses,[16] and humans, where the infestation is known as gamasoidosis.[17] As they are capable of digesting mammalian including human blood, infestations can be persistent.[16] Due to the nocturnal feeding habits of D. gallinae, people bitten by commonly feel itchy and notice bites when they wake up in the morning.[18] The severity of the signs vary, with dermatitis,[19] pruritus and papular urticaria being common symptoms.[17]
Jane Ishka recited her experience with human mite infestation in her book The Year of the Mite.[20]
Infestation by D. gallinae is rare in cats and dogs; usually the extremities and the back are bitten, causing itching.[21]
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Immature form Nymph I of Dermanyssus gallinae by A.C. Oudemans
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Immature form Nymph II of Dermanyssus gallinae by A.C. Oudemans
See also
References
- ^ Desloire, Sophie; Valiente Moro, Claire; Chauve, Claude; Zenner, Lionel (2006). "Comparison of four methods of extracting DNA from D. gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)". Veterinary Research. 37 (5): 725–732. doi:10.1051/vetres:2006031. PMID 16820136.
- ^ Sparagano, O.A.E.; George, D.R.; Harrington, D.W.J.; Giangaspero, A. (2014). "Significance and Control of the Poultry Red Mite, Dermanyssus gallinae". Annual Review of Entomology. 59: 447–466. doi:10.1146/annurev-ento-011613-162101. PMID 24397522.
- ^ Weisbroth, Steven H. (1960). "The Differentiation of Dermanyssus gallinae from Ornithonyssus sylviarum". Avian Diseases. 4 (2): 133–137. doi:10.2307/1587499. JSTOR 1587499.
- ^ Sparagano, O.A.E.; Giangaspero, A. (2011). "Parasitism in egg production systems: The role of the red mite ( Dermanyssus gallinae )". Improving the Safety and Quality of Eggs and Egg Products. pp. 394–414. doi:10.1533/9780857093912.3.394. ISBN 9781845697549.
- ^ Chirico, J.; Eriksson, H.; Fossum, O.; Jansson, D. (2003). "The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, a potential vector of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae causing erysipelas in hens". Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 17 (2): 232–234. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2915.2003.00428.x.
- ^ Nordenfors, Helena; Höglund, Johan; Uggla, Arvid (1999). "Effects of Temperature and Humidity on Oviposition, Molting, and Longevity of Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)". Journal of Medical Entomology. 36 (1): 68–72. doi:10.1093/jmedent/36.1.68. PMID 10071495.
- ^ Mul, Monique F.; Koenraadt, Constantianus J. M. (2009). "Preventing introduction and spread of Dermanyssus gallinae in poultry facilities using the HACCP method". Experimental and Applied Acarology. 48 (1–2): 167–181. doi:10.1007/s10493-009-9250-6. PMID 19221882.
- ^ Bellanger, A. P.; Bories, C.; Foulet, F.; Bretagne, S.; Botterel, F. (2008). "Nosocomial Dermatitis Caused by Dermanyssus gallinae". Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. 29 (3): 282–283. doi:10.1086/528815. PMID 18205530.
- ^ Whitehead, M. L.; Roberts, V. (2014). "Backyard poultry: Legislation, zoonoses and disease prevention". Journal of Small Animal Practice. 55 (10): 487–496. doi:10.1111/jsap.12254. PMID 25109514.
- ^ Lesna, Izabela; Sabelis, Maurice W.; Van Niekerk, Thea G. C. M.; Komdeur, Jan (2012). "Laboratory tests for controlling poultry red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) with predatory mites in small 'laying hen' cages". Experimental and Applied Acarology. 58 (4): 371–383. doi:10.1007/s10493-012-9596-z. PMC 3487000. PMID 22773110.
- ^ Chauve, Claude (1998). "The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778): Current situation and future prospects for control". Veterinary Parasitology. 79 (3): 239–245. doi:10.1016/S0304-4017(98)00167-8. PMID 9823064.
- ^ George, D.R.; Shiel, R.S.; Appleby, W.G.C.; Knox, A.; Guy, J.H. (2010). "In vitro and in vivo acaricidal activity and residual toxicity of spinosad to the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae". Veterinary Parasitology. 173 (3–4): 307–316. doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.06.035. PMID 20655147.
- ^ a b Brauneis, Maria D.; Zoller, Hartmut; Williams, Heike; Zschiesche, Eva; Heckeroth, Anja R. (2017). "The acaricidal speed of kill of orally administered fluralaner against poultry red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae) on laying hens and its impact on mite reproduction". Parasites & Vectors. 10 (1): 594. doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2534-5. PMC 5712167. PMID 29197422.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Zeman, P. (1987). "Systemic efficacy of ivermectin against Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) in fowls". Veterinary Parasitology. 23 (1–2): 141–146. doi:10.1016/0304-4017(87)90032-X.
- ^ Harrington, David; Canales, Mario; de la Fuente, José; De Luna, Carlos; Robinson, Karen; Guy, Jonathan; Sparagano, Olivier (2009). "Immunisation with recombinant proteins subolesin and Bm86 for the control of Dermanyssus gallinae in poultry". Vaccine. 27 (30): 4056–4063. doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.04.014. PMID 19501789.
- ^ a b George DR, Finn RD, Graham KM, Mul MF, Maurer V, Moro CV, Sparagano OA (March 2015). "Should the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae be of wider concern for veterinary and medical science?". Parasites & Vectors. 8: 178. doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0768-7. PMC 4377040. PMID 25884317.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ a b James, WD; Berger, T; Elston, D (2015). "Parasitic infestations, stings and bites: Gamasoidosis". Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology (12 ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 446. ISBN 9780323319690.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|name-list-format=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Kos, L; Galbraith, S (2011). "Infections and infestations". In Schachner, LA; Hansen, RC (eds.). Pediatric dermatology (4th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby/Elsevier. pp. 1576–1578. ISBN 9780723436652.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|name-list-format=
ignored (|name-list-style=
suggested) (help) - ^ Rosen, S.; Yeruham, I.; Braverman, Y. (2002). "Dermatitis in humans associated with the mites Pyemotes tritici, Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti and Androlaelaps casalis in Israel". Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 16 (4): 442–444. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2915.2002.00386.x. PMID 12510897.
- ^ Ishka, Jane (2016). The Year of the Mite. Bitingduck Press. ISBN 9781938463433.[page needed]
- ^ Paterson, Sue (2009). "Dermanyssus gallinae". Manual of skin diseases of the dog and cat (2nd ed.). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 118–119. ISBN 9781444309324.
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External links
- Red Mite Guide on poultrykeeper.com, A comprehensive guide to identifying and controlling red mite, including life cycle diagram, photos and FAQs.
- Red Mite Page on keeping-chickens.me.uk, Photographs of typical red mite infestations including macro photograph in backyard poultry coops
- Red Mite infestation in houses Infestation is not limited to chicken coops.
- Red Mite Information on Accidental Smallholder and close up photos for smallholders and backyard chicken keepers.
- Dermanyssus gallinae, at WikiVet