Avian mite dermatitis: an Italian case indicating the establishment and spread of Ornithonyssus bursa (Acari: Gamasida: Macronyssidae) (Berlese, 1888) in Europe

Abstract

Not only does this paper report the first European case of human infestation with O. bursa, it provides evidence that this alien species has settled and spread in the Old Continent. It may have been flown in from a small focus reported in Danish migratory birds in the 1980s or may have been accidentally introduced into Italy through the importation of infested poultry from South America. Such occurrences may have unpredictable epidemiological and ecological consequences. More comprehensive veterinary inspection of imported birds is desirable.

Dermanysuss gallinaeattacks humans. Mind the gap!

“…gallinae is relatively small at the adult stage (0.5-1 mm long), with long legs and a greyish-white body that becomes reddish-brown when engorged ( Figure 4). However, since cases of dermatitis caused by the avian mites Ornithonyssus bursa (Castelli et al, 2015;Mentz et al, 2015;Bassini-Silva et al, 2019) and Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Orton et al, 2000;Cafiero et al, 2018), or by the rodent mite Ornithonyssus bacoti (Beck & Fölster-Holst, 2009;Cafiero et al, 2016) have been recorded in humans even recently, there may be some confusion over identification of the mite responsible.…”

Dermatitis due to Mesostigmatic mites (Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus [O.] bacoti, O. bursa, O. sylviarum) in residential settings

“…This study lists O. sylviarum as a new agent of human mite dermatitis in Italy, in addition to the recently registered O. bursa and O. bacoti [ 11,12 ] . It also suggests that maintenance of this dermatitis is ensured by an urban cycle, in which synanthropic birds/rodents serve as natural hosts/ reservoirs of the above-mentioned mites, and city dwellers and/or their pets are accidental victims [ 2,13 ] .…”

Outbreaks of Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari, Mesostigmata) Related Dermatitis in Humans in Public and Private Residences, in Italy (2001-2017): An Expanding Skin Affliction

“…Furthermore, zoonotic mestostigmatic mites morphologically close to D. gallinae but with different relationship to their host, such as Ornithonyssus (O.) bacoti, O. sylviarum and O. bursa [17][18][19] can be associated with urban dermatitis worldwide. For this reason, it is important correctly to identify the collected parasites.…”