The poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae): A potential vector of pathogenic agents

Claire Valiente Moro, Carlos J. De Luna, Alexander Tod, Jonathan H. Guy, Olivier A.E. Sparagano, Lionel Zenner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The poultry red mite, D. gallinae has been involved in the transmission of many pathogenic agents, responsible for serious diseases both in animals and humans. Nowadays, few effective methods are available to control the ectoparasite in poultry farms. Consequently, this is an emerging problem which must be taken into account to maintain good health in commercial egg production. This paper addresses the vector capacity of the ectoparasite with special emphasis on salmonellae, pathogenic agents responsible for many of the most important outbreaks of food-borne diseases worlwide. It has been experimentally shown that D. gallinae could act as a biological vector of S. enteritidis and natural carriage of these bacteria by the mite on poultry premises has also been reported. It was also found that D. gallinae carried other pathogens such as E. coli, Shigella sp., and Staphylococcus, thus increasing the list of pathogenic agents potentially transmitted by the mite.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)93-104
Number of pages12
JournalExperimental and Applied Acarology
Volume48
Issue number1-2
Early online date11 Feb 2009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Dermanyssus gallinae
  • Pathogenic agents
  • Salmonella
  • Vectorial role

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology
  • Insect Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae): A potential vector of pathogenic agents'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this