Genetic differences in internal transcribed spacer 1 between Dermanyssus gallinae from wild birds and domestic chickens

Abstract

We investigated the presence of the poultry red mite or the chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae De Geer, Acari: Dermanyssidae, in wild bird populations in four different geographical regions of Sweden. The mites identified as D. gallinae were compared genetically with D. gallinae from egg-producing poultry farms in the same regions. The small subunit (SSU) gene, the 5.8S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and the two internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the rRNA genes were used in the genetic analysis. All D. gallinae mites had identical SSU rRNA, 5.8S rRNA and ITS2 sequences independent of their origin. By contrast, we identified significant differences in the ITS1 sequences. Based on the differences in the ITS1 sequences, the mites could be divided into two genotypes, of wild and domesticated origin, with no variation within the groups. These results imply that wild bird populations are of low importance, if any, as natural reservoirs of D. gallinae in these four geographical regions of Sweden.

Molecular phylogenetic assessment of host range in five Dermanyssus species

“…Its type host was Passer domesticus (L., 1758). Moreover, some mites found by Brännström et al (2008) from several species of Muscicapidae (Passeriforms) provided an ITS sequence similar to that obtained from our populations of D. longipes (Roy et al 2008).…”

Dermanyssus gallinaeinfestation: An unusual cause of scalp pruritus treated with permethrin shampoo

“…Recently, other pathogens were discovered to be present in D. gallinae and the vector capacity for salmonellosis has been demonstrated (4). The zoonotic potential of these pathogens should also be considered as additional concerns associated with the parasite, as D. gallinae, in the absence of its definitive host, occasionally attacks dogs, cats, rodents, horses and humans, causing dermatitis and intense pruritus (3)(4)(5). Most dermatologists have difficulty identifying ectoparasitoses, such as those that arise within new or atypical conditions.…”

Understanding the biology and control of the poultry red miteDermanyssus gallinae: a review

“…PRM is a haematophagous ectoparasite of poultry and wild birds (Kristofík et al, 1996;Brännström et al, 2008), requiring blood meals to develop into the last three subsequent stages of its life cycle as well as for development of eggs during oviposition (see Figure 1). Predominately females feed on blood several times during their lifetime though it has been reported that males may bloodfeed intermittently (Chauve, 1998).…”

“…Reports of PRM resistance to acaricidal drugs containing amitraz, carbaryl and permethrin (Zeman & Železný, 1985;Beugnet et al, 1997;Marangi et al, 2009), allied with genetic variation between red mite populations (Brännström et al, 2008;Potenza et al, 2009;Roy & Buronfosse, 2011), suggest there is an urgent requirement for research to uncover more specific control strategies. Detailed knowledge of D. gallinae biology and behaviour is comparatively underrepresented in the literature, given its commercial impact; this was estimated, for instance, in 2005 to cause an economic loss of €130 million per annum in Europe alone (Van Emous, 2005).…”