The red mite, also called " chicken coop lice ", is an ectoparasite that can affect birds of all species, although it is more common in chickens raised for production purposes. In less common contexts, they can also bite mammals and humans. In addition to causing intense itching and skin irritation, red mites can transmit numerous diseases that can be lethal to birds.
Do you wonder how to prevent red mite in your hens? In this article on our site, we show you the main methodologies used to control red mite infestations on agricultural farms. In addition, we present some innovative solutions, which are in the phase of scientific verification or commercialization viability.
What are red mites?
Red mites are a kind of hematophagous ectoparasite (which feed by ingesting the blood of their hosts), called Demanyssus gallinae. They are very small insects, which can measure between 0.5 mm and 1 mm in adulthood. Its body takes on the characteristic red coloration when filled with blood, but it is naturally white.
As they maintain a very short life cycle (around 90 days), they should take advantage of it to reproduce intensely when they find optimal conditions in the body of the host. In some cases, reproduction is so intense that the mite can "finish" its life cycle in just 5 days, depositing an enormous number of larvae in the host's organism. Therefore, red mites are capable of generating large infestations in poultry farms in a short space of time, creating a serious biosanitary problem
Its population has spread across all continents and, at present, it is estimated that nearly 90% of hens raised for commercial purposes have already had some contact with these ectoparasites. In addition, experts point out that the red mite represents the greatest plague of laying hens in recent decades.
Red mite in hens: he alth risks
As they are hematophagous parasites, red mites obtain the necessary nutrients to maintain their metabolism through the intake of blood from their host. This generates a significant nutritional deficit in the affected animal, since the nutrients ingested in its diet are "diverted" by the parasites before being assimilated by its own body. If the infestation is not treated quickly, the bird is vulnerable to severe anemia which can be fatal.
Red mites also act as a vector for numerous diseases. That is to say: they lodge and transport, in their organism, pathogenic agents that can cause severe damage to the he alth of the birds. Among the diseases that can be triggered by contaminated red mite bites, we find encephalitis, a avian cholera and spirochetosis.
Some scientific studies have shown that red mites are natural carriers of various serotypes of Salmonella , bacteria that can trigger different infectious processes in the body of birds. Among the diseases associated with Salmonella, we find salmonellosis and avian typhoid, two diseases with a high fatality rate among hens. In addition, Salmonella can also affect the eggs of infected hens, threatening the he alth of the chicks and representing a possible source contamination to humans
Last (but not least), red mite bites often cause intense itching and irritation to the birds' skin. This causes them a lot of stress and can lead them to self-mutilate themselves with their beak in an attempt to relieve discomfort and itching.
Treatment methods for red mite in chickens
Due to their small size and night habits, it can be difficult to recognize the presence of red mites in poultry farms and also in farms. domestic birds. These ectoparasites usually hide during the day, finding small holes or caves or making nests in dark places with little traffic. Therefore, red mites go unnoticed for days or weeks, causing much damage to the fur and skin of birds and silently damaging their he alth.
This reaffirms the need to adopt effective preventive measures to avoid red mite infestation in hens and domestic birds. Of course, we must stress the importance of separating contaminated birds from other individuals in their community. Remember that red mites are easily transmitted between chickens and, in a few days, can generate a large infestation. It is also recommended that contaminated birds do not have contact with other pets or farm animals, since mites can opportunely parasitize mammals and even humans.
Below, we present the main methods of control and fight against red mites that have been used and studied in European poultry farms:
- Acaricides: Today, most poultry farms use powder or spray acaricides to prevent and combat red mite infestations in hens. But there are 2 problems with this method: the first is that very few miticide products are registered and authorized for use in the presence of animals. In other words: few acaricides offer the safety of eliminating red mites without harming the he alth of birds or contaminating eggs intended for human consumption. The other worrying issue is that red mites have been shown to be able to create resistance against permanent exposure to these products. Poultry farmers generally give preference to acaricides from the pyrethroids family, since they have low toxicitycompared to organophosphate-based formulas. However, an organophosphate compound called phoxim has also been approved for use in European poultry farms, as it has shown a very low rate of penetration into the shell of poultry. eggs and low toxicity to birds. However, as it is a recently studied compound, there are still no data regarding the resistance acquired by ectoparasites to its formula.
- Essential oils and natural extracts: the essential oils of lavender, thyme, pennyroyal, cinnamon, clove, mustard, coriander and peppermint are being applied as a natural and safeoption to commercial miticides. The aroma of these oils would be able to drive away red mites without transmitting flavors or aromas to the egg or interfering with the welfare of the hens. To enhance their effect, it is recommended to use them through an environmental vaporization. On the other hand, the efficacy of fennel and garlic extracts for the elimination of red mites in these establishments is also being studied.
- Mushrooms: For some time now, the European Union has been funding some research on the use of Mushrooms pathogens to control the red mite population in poultry farms. One of these studies has revealed that these ectoparasites are vulnerable to infection by two species of pathogenic fungi already known to European scientists: Beauveria bassiana and Metharhizium anisoplae. For now, this experiment has been successful in laboratory tests, but the field tests still show certain specific infeasibility to monitor results, such as the difficulty of verifying the decrease in the total population of red mites in large farms.
- Physical treatments (high temperatures): Scandinavian countries already apply physical treatments, using steam , vacuumed and washed periodically from the productive areas of poultry farms. The method is based on exposing red mites to temperatures above 45ºC, since they are lethal for these ectoparasites.
- Magnetic powders: Using magnetic powder with fine particles that are harmless to hens, this treatment works by abrasion. That is to say: by waterproofing the cuticle that makes up the exoskeleton of red mites, magnetic powders would cause their death by dehydration The most modern products based on this methodology are still are in the stage of adjustment for marketing, but silica dust is already a recognized ally in the treatment of mites in birds and can be used to combat the red mite in chickens.
- Natural predators: Considering the possible toxicity of chemical methods and the resistance of red mites, many researchers are dedicated to analyze the use of natural predators in order to control the population of these ectoparasites in poultry farms. Two species of indigenous and non-invasive arthropods (known as Androlis and Taurrus) are currently being experimented with, mainly on farms in France, to achieve "biological control" of red mites. However, there is still no agreement on the possible effects of the proliferation of these predators in the ecosystem.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that the methodologies of permanent exposure to light are prohibited in European poultry farms to preserve welfare hens and avoid negative impacts on products for human consumption. Constant exposure to light (natural or artificial) generates enormous stress in hens and usually affects the rate of their metabolism, negatively affecting their he alth. For many years, this dangerous methodology was used to speed up the fattening process in agricultural farms (since hens maintain diurnal feeding habits), but happily the European legislation has formalized the risks of its application for the he alth of animals and for the quality of products intended for human consumption.
