[[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)]]
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Knemidocoptes are [[Burrowing Mites|burrowing mites]] of avian species. There are a number of important species infecting both production birds and pet animals.
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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===
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===Detection===
===Detection===
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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. A single mite is diagnostic of Knemidocoptes infection.
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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 of infections of ''Knemidocoptes'' mite result in clinical signs.
===Life Cycle===
===Life Cycle===
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===Treatment===
===Treatment===
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Treatment requires repeated use of [[Ectoparasiticides|acaricides]] however there are few of these products licensed for use in poultry
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Treatment requires repeated use of [[Ectoparasiticides|acaricides]] however there are few of these products licensed for use in poultry.