- 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