Knemidocoptes

Knemidocoptes Mite under Light microscope (Courtesy of C. Antonczyk)

Chicken with Scaly Leg (Courtesy of C. Antonczyk)

• Only genus of burrowing mites which occurs on avian species

• Life cycle similar to Sarcoptes spp.

• Diagnosis based on
  • Clinical signs
  • Discovery of mites

• Repeat treatments with acaricides needed
  • Few products licensed for use in poultry

Recognition

• Small, round mite

• Short legs

• U-shaped chitinous bar behind head

• Terminal anus

• K. mutans
  • Scaly leg in poultry
  • Mites burrow beneath leg scales causing them to loosen and rise
  • Ragged appearance to legs and feet
  • Distorted claws and feet
  • Infected birds are usually lame

• K. gallinae
  • Depluming itch in poultry
  • Burrow into feather shafts
  • Intense pain and pruritus
  • Birds pull out body feathers

• K. pilae
  • Scaly face and beak in psittacines
  • Mites attack bare or lightly feathered areas of the face, beak, cere and body
  • Scaliness at the base of the beak is the first sign which then spreads
  • Little pruritus