Ticks and mites (Acari)

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

“…The poultry red-mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, De Geer is a cosmopolitan nidicolous blood-sucking ectoparasite able to infest naturally several species of domestic and wild birds and, occasionally mammals, including humans [2], thus representing a significant medical and veterinary issue [4]. It visits the host temporarily for short blood meals (1-2 hours), typically at night; in daytime, the mite hides away in its close proximity [2].…”

“…It visits the host temporarily for short blood meals (1-2 hours), typically at night; in daytime, the mite hides away in its close proximity [2]. The life cycle includes five developmental stages (egg-larva-2 nymphal stages, male and female) of which adult and nymphs consume blood; under favorable temperature conditions and in presence of the avian host, it is completed within 7-10 days [2].…”

“…It visits the host temporarily for short blood meals (1-2 hours), typically at night; in daytime, the mite hides away in its close proximity [2]. The life cycle includes five developmental stages (egg-larva-2 nymphal stages, male and female) of which adult and nymphs consume blood; under favorable temperature conditions and in presence of the avian host, it is completed within 7-10 days [2]. D. gallinae can be seen to naked eye; unfed red-mites are approximately 0.70 mm long × 0.40 mm wide, greyish-white in colour and rather motile in movement; when engorged they increase to more than 1 mm long becoming reddish-brown and sluggish [2].…”

“…In the remaining outbreaks (6/20) no medical advice was sought. The collected arthropods were identified by IZSPB veterinarian entomologists as Dermanyssus gallinae (Figure 1) according to Varma morphological keys [2] and key characters [3]. After environmental investigation, the PRMs source was identified in pigeon ( infested quarters, led to complete regression of the symptoms.…”

Electronic polytomous and dichotomous keys to the genera and species of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) present in New Zealand

“…Dichotomous (Table 2) and polytomous keys (Tables 3 & 4) to identify adults and nymphs of Ixodidae to genus were constructed while examining specimens of Amblyomma, Amblyomma (formerly Aponomma), Rhipicephalus (formerly Boophilus), Bothriocroton, Dermacentor, Ixodes, Hyalomma, and Rhipicephalus, and with reference to the following literature : Arthur 1960a, b, Arthur & Chaudhuri 1965, Barker & Murrell 2004, Beati et al 2008, Belozerov et al 2001, Guglielmone et al 2009, Hoogstraal et al 1970, Horak et al 2002, Kaufman 1972, Keirans et al 1994, Klompen et al 2002, Matthysse & Colbo 1987, Nuttall & Warburton 1911, 1915, Roberts 1970, Sonenshine 1991, Varma 1993, Volzit 2002, Volzit & Keirans 2003, Walker et al 2000and Walker et al 2003 To develop the key to New Zealand species, I referred to previously published keys and taxonomic descriptions contained in Arthur (1963), Chilton (1904), Dumbleton (1943Dumbleton ( , 1953Dumbleton ( , 1958Dumbleton ( , 1961Dumbleton ( , 1963Dumbleton ( , 1973, Hoogstraal (1967), Hoogstraal et al (1968), McKenna (1996 and Roberts (1970), and I examined representative male, female and nymphal specimens of all species in New Zealand except I. jacksoni. This allowed a range of discriminating features to be identified and included.…”