Dermanyssus gallinae
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| Dermanyssus gallinae | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Arthropoda |
| Order | Mesostigmata |
| Family | Dermanyssidae |
| Genus | Dermanyssus |
| Species | D.gallinae |
Dermanyssus gallinae are red surface mites of poultry. They spend most of their time off the host and the adults can survive several months without feeding. Their life cycle takes 1 week. The adult and nymph mites visit poultry at night to feed.
Identification
Dermanyssus gallinae are spider like mites. They are white or grey in colour and become red when engorged with blood after feeding. They have few hairs on their body and have hooks on their long legs.
Pathogenesis
Dermanyssus gallinae are blood sucking mites, causing lesions usually found on the breast and legs. Their presence can cause irritation, restlessness, decrease in egg production. If they are present in large numbers, they can cause anaemia. Newly hatched chicks can rapidly die if infested.
Treatment
The mites can be treated using Acaricide, environmental treatment and the removal of wild bird nests.