Molecular investigations of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) in the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, in northern Europe and implications for its transmission between laying poultry farms

Abstract

Samples of Dermanyssus gallinae (DeGeer) (Acari: Dermanyssidae) from more than 49 Norwegian and Swedish laying poultry farms, and additional samples collected from Scottish, Finnish, Danish and Dutch layer farms, were compared genetically. Analysis of partial mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of mites from Norway and Sweden revealed 32 haplotypes. Only single haplotypes were found on most farms, which suggests that infections are recycled within farms and that transmission routes are few. Both Norwegian and Swedish isolates were found in the two major haplogroups, but no haplotypes were shared between Norway and Sweden, indicating little or no recent exchange of mites between these countries. There appears to be no link between haplotypes and geographical location as identical haplotypes were found in both the northern and southern Swedish locations, and haplotypes were scattered in locations between these extremes. The current data suggest that wild birds in Sweden are not a reservoir for D. gallinae infection of layer farms as their mites were genetically distinct from D. gallinae of farm layer birds. Transmission of the poultry red mite in Scandinavia is thus likely to depend on synantropic factors such as the exchange of contaminated material or infested birds between farms or facilities.

Molecular epidemiological characterization of poultry red mite, <i>Dermanyssus gallinae</i>, in Japan

“… ND: Not determined. a) Haplogroups reported by Oines and Brannstrom [ 8 ]. b) Haplotypes were determined based on the nucleotide sequences of 643-bp of COI gene.…”

“…Haplotypes designated based on the 643-bp of COI gene of 101 mite samples collected in Japan are shown in boldface. The haplotypes previously reported [ 8 ] in other countries are underlined. Other sequences obtained from the database are shown with the accession number and the country where the mites were detected.…”

“…D. gallinae is distributed throughout the world [ 10 ], and their genetic diversity based on nucleotide sequences has been examined in Europe, the United States, Brazil and Australia. The genes sequenced include mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene [ 7 , 8 , 13 ] and 16S rRNA [ 12 , 13 ], and the nuclear internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region [ 2 , 6 , 8 , 9 , 13 ]. These molecular epidemiological studies revealed intra- and international migrations of the mite in these countries.…”

Should the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae be of wider concern for veterinary and medical science?

“…At least two D. gallinae clades have been described to date, showing that populations in poultry farms can be organised into several lineages [ 118 ]. Work in Sweden and Norway identified several haplotypes of D. gallinae , finding wild-type and syanthropic mites to be genetically distinct [ 119 ]. This apparent genetic plasticity, coupled with minimal cross-breeding between syanthropic and wild-type mites, may lend itself to host-switching in D. gallinae , allowing populations to quickly adapt to novel, even non-avian hosts.…”

Molecular Detection of Avian Pathogens in Poultry Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) Collected in Chicken Farms

“…Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari, Mesostigmata, Dermanyssoidea, Dermanyssidae), poultry red mite (PRM), is an obligatory blood-sucking parasite of both domestic and wild birds. The mite has been reported to parasitize at least 28 avian species [ 15 ] and is considered one of the major problems in poultry farms in the United States [ 7 ], Europe [ 2 ] and Japan [ 14 ]. The infestation of PRM in poultry results in stress, decreasing egg production, anemia and even mortality due to exsanguination.…”