Changes

{{Taxobox

{{Taxobox

|name              =Knemidocoptes

|name              =Knemidocoptes

|kingdom            =Animalia

|kingdom            =Animalia

|phylum            =

|phylum            =

|class              =Arachnida

|class              =[[:Category:Arachnida|Arachnida]]

|sub-class          =Acari

|sub-class          =Acari

|order              =Acariformes

|order              =Acariformes

{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"  

{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"  

| Also known as:

| Also known as:

| ''Cnemidocoptes''

| '''''Cnemidocoptes''

|-

|-

|}

|}

[[Image:Clinical Case 2 03.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Knemidocoptes'' Mite under Light microscope (Courtesy of C. Antonczyk)]]

[[Image:Clinical Case 2 03.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Knemidocoptes'' Mite under Light microscope (Courtesy of C. Antonczyk)]]

[[Image:Clinical Case 2 01.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Chicken with Scaly Leg (Courtesy of C. Antonczyk)]]

[[Image:Clinical Case 2 01.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Chicken with Scaly Leg (Courtesy of C. Antonczyk)]]

===Overview===

==Overview==

Knemidocoptes are [[Burrowing Mites|burrowing mites]] of avian species. There are a number of important species infecting both production birds and pet animals. The mites tend to infect unfeathered areas of birds and so commonly cause scale as a clinical sign. Spread of these mites occurs from prolonged close contact between birds, such as occurs between a mother and unfeathered young.  

Knemidocoptes are [[Burrowing Mites|burrowing mites]] of avian species. There are a number of important species infecting both production birds and pet animals. The mites tend to infect unfeathered areas of birds and so commonly cause scale as a clinical sign. Spread of these mites occurs from prolonged close contact between birds, such as occurs between a mother and unfeathered young.  

===Identification===

==Identification==

''Knemidocoptes'' are small round mites found in different locations on avian species dependant on the species of mite present. They have a stumpy legged appearance as their coxa are sunk into the body. Unlike other burrowing mites, that have pediculated suckers, the tarsal portions of ''Knemidocoptes'' mites have claw like structures and tactile hairs. They may look similar to ''Sarcoptes spp.'' however they lack pegs and have dorsal striations instead. The mites breath through their cuticles and therefore are astigmata. The presence of a terminal anus can also be used as a distinguishing feature.

''Knemidocoptes'' are small round mites found in different locations on avian species dependent on the species of mite present. They have a stumpy legged appearance as their coxa are sunk into the body. Unlike other burrowing mites, that have pediculated suckers, the tarsal portions of ''Knemidocoptes'' mites have claw like structures and tactile hairs. They may look similar to ''[[Sarcoptes spp.]]'' however they lack pegs and have dorsal striations instead. The mites breath through their cuticles and therefore are astigmata. The presence of a terminal anus can also be used as a distinguishing feature.

===Detection===

==Detection==

The method of detection is a combination of the presence of clinical signs as well as identification of mites on a skin scrape or feather pluck. Not all infections of ''Knemidocoptes'' mite result in clinical signs, some may lay dormant for until the animal is stressed or is otherwise immunocompromised.

The method of detection is a combination of the presence of clinical signs as well as identification of mites on a skin scrape or feather pluck. Not all infections of ''Knemidocoptes'' mite result in clinical signs, some may lay dormant for until the animal is stressed or is otherwise immunocompromised.

===Life Cycle===

==Life Cycle==

The entire life cycle takes place on a single host and takes between 14 and 21 days to complete. The mite is spread by close contact with an infected animal, however it can survive for a limited time off the host. Mating occurs on the host, a mature male will leave its moulting pocket and seek a female either on the skin or in a moulting pocket. The females are ovo-viviparous meaning that they give birth to live larval young. Once fertalised the female will create a burrow in the upper layers of the epidermis, the larvae will be laid in this burrow and move to the skin surface.<br>

The entire life cycle takes place on a single host and takes between 14 and 21 days to complete. The mite is spread by close contact with an infected animal, however it can survive for a limited time off the host. Mating occurs on the host, a mature male will leave its moulting pocket and seek a female either on the skin or in a moulting pocket. The females are ovo-viviparous meaning that they give birth to live larval young. Once fertilised the female will create a burrow in the upper layers of the epidermis, the larvae will be laid in this burrow and move to the skin surface.<br>

'''Larvae'''<br/>

'''Larvae'''<br/>

''Knemidocoptes'' mites have hexapod larvae.Burrow into the skin creating moulting pockets and undergo two nymphal stages before reaching maturity

''Knemidocoptes'' mites have hexapod larvae. They burrow into the skin creating moulting pockets and undergo two nymphal stages before reaching maturity.

===Important Species===

==Important Species==

*''K. mutans''

*''K. mutans''

::This species is the cause of '''scaly leg''' in poultry species as the mite burrows beneath scales on the leg and foot. This causes lameness as well as the presence of ragged legs and feed and distorted claws.

::This species is the cause of '''scaly leg''' in poultry species as the mite burrows beneath scales on the leg and foot. This causes lameness as well as the presence of ragged legs and feed and distorted claws.

Treatment requires repeated use of [[Ectoparasiticides|acaricides]] however there are few of these products licensed for use in poultry.

Treatment requires repeated use of [[Ectoparasiticides|acaricides]] however there are few of these products licensed for use in poultry.

 

==References==

=References=

{{citation

{{citation

|initiallast =Taylor

|initiallast =Taylor

|finalfirst =

|finalfirst =

|year = 2007

|year = 2007

|title = Veterinary Parisitology

|title = Veterinary Parasitology

|ed = 3

|ed = 3

|city =   

|city =   

[[Category:Poultry]]

[[Category:Poultry Parasites]]

[[Category:Burrowing_Mites]]

[[Category:Burrowing_Mites]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_NickJ]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_NickJ]]

[[Category:To_Do_-_Review]]

[[Category:Expert_Review]]