ATLASSKIN ECTOPARASITES
      ARACHNIDA Order: Acarina, Family Dermanyssidae
       
      DERMANYSSUS GALLINAE (De Geer)
       

      By dr. Ivan Pavlovic, PhD,MSc,DVM,ScAdv.
      Scientific Veterinary Institute of Serbia Dept.of Parasitology; 11000 Belgrade,V.Toze 14, Serbia and Montenegro


      By dr. Ivan Pavlovic
      Fig 1 D.gallinae Fig 2 D.gallinae Fig 3 D.gallinae

      Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778), poultry red mite or chicken mite, is the most important haematophagous poultry ectoparasite in Europe. Parasitism of this haemotophagous chicken mite is demonstrated through disturbance of poultry, irritation, anemia, transfer of diseases, reduced laying ability, and sometimes even death. Dermanyssus gallinae is an obligatory blood-feeding parasite of birds. Chicken mite stay on the host only during night when they feed for a short (1 – 2 hours) blood meal; in day time they are hidden somewhere in the chicken house, on cages, wall cracks where they digest blood and multiply. Although this is parasite of domestic and wild birds, it can also exist on over 20 mammal types including human. D. gallinae is egg shaped and has a unique non-segmented body. Male is 0,6mm long, hungry female up to 0,75mm, after sucking of blood they grow up to 2mm. Cuticle is soft and thin, so whitish or grayish larvae, nymphs and males differ from females that have sucked blood which are red or black color.

      The mite is in large expansion from north to south part of Europe. We had a high prevalence at poultry in ex Yugoslav countries (Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia). Human infestation or avian mite dermatitis, has been reported after exposure to a variety of birds: the most common mites involved are: Ornithonyssus sylviarum and Dermanyssus gallinae. Clinical manifestations are itching, papules, vescicles and dermatitis. Usually is a professional disease.

      Picture 1. Dermanyssus gallinae: female with eggs
      Picture 2. D.gallina: adult
      Picture 3. Human infestation: biting place

      Pictures realized with the collaboration of dr Aleksandar Pavličević and photographs Miljan Zeković and Mišika Sabonji.

      Reference
      1. PAVLOVIĆ I., Hudina V., Blažin Vesna, Ilić Živka, Miljković Biljana (1988): Eradication of Dermanyssus gallinae at one poultry farm at individual breeding using Ectocide Veterinarski glasnik 42 (10), 643-648;
      2. PAVLOVIĆ I. (1991): Ecto i endoparasites of pheasants at farrm breeding at measures to its control MSc thesis Fakultet veterinarske medicine u Beogradu;
      3. PAVLOVIĆ I., Kulišić Z., Milutinović Marija, Nešić Dragica, Valter D. (1995): Importance of arthropods at health of pheasants at farm breeding Veterinarski glasnik 49 (11-12), 745-749
      4. PAVLOVIĆ I., Jeremić D. , Palikaš I., Pitić Ljiljana (1997): Ectoparasites in poultry and its control with pyrethroids Archives of Toxicology, Kinetic and Xenobiotic Metabolism 5 (2), 141-142
      5. PAVLOVIĆ I., Kulišić Z., Milutinović Marija, Palić D., Dimitrić A. (1997): Contribution to know of artropod fauna of pigeons (Columba livia L.) Zbornik rezimea simpozijuma entnomologa Srbije 97,Goč, 2-4.10.1997., 45
      6. Pavličević A., PAVLOVIĆ I., Stajković N.,Pižurica A. (2003): Program to controle of (Dermanyssus gallinae) instruction to breeder Živinarstvo XXXVIII (3-4), 11-15
      7. Anne W. Lucky, MD; C. Paul Sayers, MD; J. David Argus, DVM; Andrea Lucky, BA Avian Mite Bites Acquired From a New Source —Pet Gerbils Report of 2 Cases and Review of the Literature Arch Dermatol. 2001;137:167-170.