This project addresses the challenge of controlling Dermanyssus gallinae infestations in poultry farms. A cohort-based model is developed that couples the pharmacokinetics of Fluralaner (Exzolt ®) in the plasma of laying hens with the dynamics of the mites, enabling the simulation of various treatment administration strategies while balancing costs. The study reveals that administering a reduced dose of Fluralaner (Exzolt ®) at high frequencies, in conjunction with a customized infestation tolerance threshold for each farm, provides a cost-effective solution for mite control. Specifically, this approach offers significant savings, with up to a 14,15% reduction in treatment costs in a case study involving moderate infestation levels. The findings emphasize that, in many cases, maintaining mite populations below acceptable limits is more economical than complete eradication. This research contributes to advancing poultry farm management practices and optimizing profitability.

Feather mites are permanent ectosymbionts that occupy discrete feather microhabitats; however, little is known about how associations between dorsal and ventral taxa vary along continuous wing gradients. We examined feather-level spatial abundance associations between dorsal and ventral feather mites along the proximodistal axis of the wing in the Siberian Rubythroat (Calliope calliope) via nonlinear mixed-effects models. Dorsal feather mites (Trouessartia calliope) were largely absent from distal outer remiges (flight feathers) and increased toward proximal body-side remiges, whereas ventral feather mites (Proctophyllodes sp.) exhibited a positional gradient along the wing. When averaged across positions, the dorsal and ventral abundances showed only weak overall associations. However, position-specific analyses revealed that the dorsal-ventral slope was positive in distal outer remiges, declined toward mid-wing positions, and approached weakly negative values in the innermost secondaries. Because dorsal abundance was minimal distally, positive slopes in that region should not be interpreted as evidence of stable coexistence and may reflect responses to environmental constraints associated with distal wing positions. This position-dependent association was detected in breeding adult birds but not in juvenile birds, suggesting age-related differences in within-host spatial organization that may reflect the shorter time since mite transmission to juveniles and subsequent community assembly. Feather mite abundances were bilaterally symmetrical and showed no consistent effects of sex, date, or year, suggesting that host-level morphological stability provides a consistent spatial template for parasite organization. Together, these findings demonstrate that within-host feather mite assemblages exhibit spatially heterogeneous abundance associations along the wing, highlighting the importance of fine-scale spatial variation for understanding the organization and potential ecological relationships of cooccurring parasite taxa.

A new genus and species, Aetocheyletia variata gen n., sp. n. (Cheyletoidea: Cheyletidae), is described from the White-Tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus) (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) in Poland. This represents the first record of cheyletid mites of the tribe Metacheyletinii from birds of prey. The new genus is morphologically most similar to Metacheyletia Fain, 1972, but differs from it in the presence of subcapitular setae n and an additional minute ventral tooth on the palpal claw. We further document considerable variability in body chaetotaxy observed in nearly all examined females. The most frequent anomalies occur in the aggenital and genito-anal regions and include (i) duplication of setae arising from a single alveolus, (ii) supernumerary setae, and (iii) reduction. In addition, distinct oval, circular, and spiral deformations of the quill wall were observed exclusively in specimens infested by A. variata, occurring in six of these feathers. No comparable alterations were found among the remaining five, including those hosting other mite taxa. This distribution suggests an association within the examined material, although causality remains unresolved. The present study expands current knowledge of the diversity and host range of Metacheyletinii and provides new observations on morphological variability and potential interactions between quill-dwelling mites and feather structure.

In a context of food security of animal consumption and diversification of protein sources, we have studied the risks to contract metazoan parasites through the consumption of 'gros-gris' snails (Cornu aspersum maximum) sampled in 12 French farms. The dissection of 361 adult snails, born and reared in France, revealed a very low parasite prevalence of 0.55% [Confidence interval: 0.15%-2.00%]. Each of the two parasitized snails harboured a single larva of the trematode Brachylaima at the metacercarial stage in its kidney. For its development, Brachylaima requires the presence of both terrestrial gastropods (first and second intermediate hosts) and vertebrates (definitive hosts) such as rodents and birds which faeces contain parasite' eggs. As for these vertebrate hosts, humans can be infected through the ingestion of parasitized snails and then harboured the parasite at an adult stage in the intestine, which could lead to digestive pathology. Our preliminary results suggest however very limited parasitological risks of the consumption of snails if they are born and reared in France, contrarily to wild snails from the subspecies C. aspersum aspersum ('petit-gris'), frequently found infected not only by Brachylaima, but also by nematodes and mites. In order to avoid snail contamination in helicicultures as much as possible, we recommend preventing intrusion of vertebrates, potentially parasitized, in the parks.

The objective of this work was to identify and characterize the mites associated with the feathers of commercial laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus Linnaeus) in Pará State, Amazon biome, Brazil, highlighting their ecological interactions, population dynamics as well as the bioecology in different breeding systems. The birds were kept in poultry houses in different systems: automated vertical system (A), automated vertical climate system (Ac) and Semi-automated Californian (S). Collections took place between January 2024 and January 2025, when ten birds were selected from each shed and feathers were collected from the following regions: wing, cloaca, back, neck, belly of each bird. Megninia ginglymura Mégnin was the most abundant mite species (99.88%) and, among the predators, Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans and Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes (0.01%). In A, population peaks of M. ginglymura occurred in July (55.64 mites/feather) and January 2025 (90.38 mites/feather); in Ac, the peaks occurred in March during the rainy season; in S, February (64.08 mites/feather), July (63.8 mites/feather) and August (62 mites/feather). Larger populations were observed on the back, wing, and belly feathers. In all systems, the highest oviposition of M. ginglymura was observed in July, dry season, on wing feathers, vent and belly. Ac was associated with lower mite abundance and oviposition. In the Ac poultry houses, no evidence of a negative association between M. ginglymura abundance and productivity was detected. This study provides the first data for the region, highlighting M. ginglymura as the main ectoparasite species and the first record of C. malaccensis and N. barkeri in aviaries in Amazon.

Parasitic skin mites associated with wild birds are understudied members of host-parasite systems in Europe despite their ecological importance, potential role as disease vectors, and effects on host fitness. Using a multidisciplinary approach combining faunistic, ecological, and molecular methods, this study investigated two mite species that parasitize passerine birds in Hungary, Harpirhynchus dusbabeki and Blankaartia acuscutellaris. Birds were examined during field sampling conducted between 2022 and 2024 at bird ringing stations and through a nationwide volunteer bird-ringing network. Parasites were identified morphologically, prevalence patterns were analyzed statistically, and mitochondrial genetic data were used to assess phylogenetic relationships. The occurrence of H dusbabeki was recorded in Hungary for the first time, and its host spectrum was found to extend to multiple host species beyond its previously known primary host, the Bearded Reedling. Blankaartia acuscutellaris infested several passerine species, with a significantly elevated prevalence in Bearded Reedlings and markedly higher prevalence among juveniles. Genetic analyses revealed close relatedness between the Hungarian and Slovakian populations of B. acuscutellaris, but showed distinct genetic separation from morphologically identified conspecifics from Laos, Asia. These findings improve the understanding of mite-passerine associations in Central-Eastern Europe and highlight the value of integrating ecological and molecular approaches to reveal the patterns of host exploitation and geographic differentiation in parasitic mites.

Poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae, PRM) remains an important ectoparasite in commercial laying-hen production, and drinking-water administration of systemic acaricides provides a practical option for whole-flock control. This study compared the field efficacy and laying performance of an independently developed 10 mg/mL fluralaner oral solution with Exzolt 10 mg/mL Solution and assessed target-animal safety and bioequivalence. A double-blind, active-controlled trial was conducted at a naturally infested commercial layer farm with a 5-row × 5-tier cage system. The products were randomly assigned to 2 independent drinking-water systems with farm-installed proportional dosing devices, with 2,400 hens monitored per area. Fluralaner was administered at 0.5 mg/kg on d 0 and d 7. Mite-trap counts, infestation severity, adverse events, and laying rate were monitored. Mean mite reduction exceeded 98% by d 1 and 99% by d 3, reached 100% by d 14, and remained above 99% through d 90. Infestation scores declined from 2.70 ± 0.67 and 2.80 ± 0.42 before treatment to 0.10 ± 0.32 and 0.20 ± 0.42 by d 7 in the test and reference areas, respectively, and were 0 from d 14 onward. Exploratory between-area comparisons detected no significant differences in mite reduction or infestation scores. Laying rate remained stable, and no treatment-related adverse events were observed. In the target-animal safety study, 80 hens received untreated water or the test product at 1 ×, 3 ×, and 5 × the recommended dose, with no consistent dose-related adverse effects identified in clinical, hematological, biochemical, pathological, production, or egg-quality outcomes. In the bioequivalence study, 66 hens received a single 0.5 mg/kg oral dose of either product. The 90% confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of Cmax, AUC0-t, and AUC0-∞ were within 80% to 125%. The test product provided sustained PRM control under commercial drinking-water conditions and showed comparable systemic exposure, without evident adverse effects on laying performance, egg quality, or target-animal safety.

Feather mites (Acariformes: Astigmata) are commonly regarded as harmless ectosymbionts of birds. In some cases, however, they may cause pathological conditions in their hosts. A new species of feather mite, Fainalges irritans sp. nov., is described from green-and-red macaws, Ara chloropterus Gray (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) in Brazil, where it is associated with skin irritation and feather loss. An updated key to males and females of the genus Fainalges Gaud & Berla, 1963 is provided, and previous records of feather mites causing injuries in birds are briefly discussed.

The rapid expansion of the poultry industry has significantly increased the demand for poultry meat and related products due to improvements in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, this rapid global commercialization has led to an increase in occupational asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease in poultry workers. Exposure to a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds, fumes, microorganisms, and particulate matter found in poultry barns has been linked to airway disease in workers. These airborne contaminants include allergens such as feathers, mites, feed dust, molds, ammonia, and bacterial endotoxins, which contribute to airway inflammation, hypersensitivity, and chronic lung damage. Workers may experience symptoms ranging from wheezing and chest tightness to chronic cough and dyspnea, which can progress to clinically significant respiratory conditions if unrecognized and unmanaged.

Northern fowl mite (NFM) infestation in laying hens remains an important economic and welfare challenge within North American cage-free egg production systems. Controlled challenge trials provide a framework for generating standardized phenotypes of host response. Therefore, our objectives were to quantify phenotypic variability and estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters for indicators of hen welfare, mite burden, and skin response traits following an experimental NFM challenge. A total of 1030 laying hens were infested at 24 weeks of age (WOA) and evaluated at 26, 30, and 40-41 WOA. Mite burden was assessed using an ordinal mite count (MC) score ranging from 0 to 7 (> 10,000 mites). Skin inflammatory response traits included inflammation area (IA; cm[2]), skin inflammation score (SI), and skin lesion score (SL). Additional welfare traits were recorded using standardized scoring systems. Hens were genotyped with a 54 K SNP panel. Variance components were estimated using animal models fitted with single-trait genomic BLUP (GBLUP), and genetic correlations between traits were obtained using two-trait GBLUP implemented under a Bayesian framework. Heritability estimates for MC, SI, IA, and SL ranged from 0.04 ± 0.03 at 40 WOA to 0.10 ± 0.04 at 26 WOA; 0.04 ± 0.02 at 40 WOA to 0.07 ± 0.04 at 30 WOA; 0.08 ± 0.07 at 40 WOA to 0.11 ± 0.05 at 30 WOA; and 0.04 ± 0.03 at 40 WOA to 0.05 ± 0.03 at 26 WOA, respectively. Genetic correlations among traits varied in both magnitude and direction, indicating complex and age-dependent relationships between mite burden and host response. These results demonstrate that traits associated with the hen response to NFM infestation are measurable, heritable, and can be improved through genomic selection. These approaches have the potential to improve hen welfare and productivity while reducing the reliance on chemical interventions, thereby supporting the long-term sustainability goals of the poultry sector.

Migratory birds act as important dispersal hosts for parasitic mites, facilitating their spread over long geographic distances and potentially contributing to the emergence of infestations in previously unaffected areas. This study investigates an unprecedented outbreak of mite infestation among residents of two villages in northwestern Iran, in July 2025. This outbreak coincided with the arrival and nesting of migratory rosy starlings (Sturnus roseus) within or near human dwellings. A comprehensive survey and clinical examination of the affected villagers revealed that 37.6% of residents in Ebrahim Khesar and 26.3% of residents in ZavehKuh presented with skin lesions consistent with mite parasitism, with housewives representing the most affected occupational group. All itching and skin irritation occurs during the day and mainly involved the trunk and hands. The mean age of affected individuals did not differ significantly between the two villages (35.7 ± 23.1 vs. 41.0 ± 25.8 years; t = -1.111, df = 100, P = 0.269; 95% CI: -15.0-4.2). Mites were collected from live birds and their carcasses and identified as Ornithonyssus sylviarum using morphological criteria. The close association between nesting rosy starlings and human settlements facilitated direct transmission of mites to humans, resulting in widespread symptoms of pruritus and dermatitis, but no systemic disease. This study found rosy starlings introduced bird mites (O. sylviarum) to homes, causing human infestations. Successful control depends on identifying the mite species, bird/nest management, education, and surveillance. A better understanding of the factors driving these outbreaks is essential for informing prevention strategies and reducing the impact of mite infestations on vulnerable populations.

Louse flies (Hippoboscidae) are ectoparasitic dipterans found on the body of birds and mammals. They have been reported from a wide geographic range, and eight species from four genera have been recorded from the Nansei Islands, a stretch of islands lying between Southwestern Japan and Taiwan. However, due to difficulties in obtaining samples, we are yet to have a complete understanding of the fauna and our knowledge on their distribution remains limited. Here, we collected louse fly samples from two scops owl species (Otus elegans and O. semitorques) from three islands within the Nansei Islands, and identified them based on their morphological characteristics. Three species, Ornithoica exilis, Ornithomya avicularia and Icosta amamiensis, were reported with different appearance of species on each island. This is the first record of Om. avicularia for Okinawajima, and the first record of this family for Haterumajima (Oc. exilis and Om. avicularia) and Minami-Daitojima (Om. avicularia). We also sequenced mitochondrial COI gene to estimate their phylogenetic positions, and also to understand the inter-insular population structure of Oc. exilis and Om. avicularia, which were collected from multiple islands. We found no inter-insular genetic differentiation between the populations, despite the host owls having low dispersal ability, indicating low host specificity and host switch of these species. We provide a complete list of all 422 specimens examined and identified in this study, along with records of phoresy by mites and chewing lice. We also present an updated key to bird-parasitising Hippoboscidae species reported from the Nansei Islands and unreported potential species.

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae is a globally significant ectoparasite affecting layer hens, with substantial economic and animal welfare impacts. Despite its importance, the genetic diversity and population structure of Dermanyssus gallinae in North Africa remain completely uncharacterized. We conducted the first molecular phylogenetic characterization of D. gallinae in Tunisia, analyzing mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences from 18 specimens collected across 20 commercial layer farms in four distinct regions (Tabarka, Manouba, Nabeul, and Sfax). Phylogenetic analyses, population genetic parameters, and demographic history were assessed using maximum likelihood methods, haplotype networks, and neutrality tests. Six distinct haplotypes were identified, with a single dominant haplotype (H1) present in 72.2% of samples across all regions. Critically, all Tunisian haplotypes formed a well-supported, divergent monophyletic cluster separated from European haplotypes by a minimum of 12 mutational steps, representing a previously uncharacterized mitochondrial lineage. Genetic diversity was moderate (Hd = 0.490) with low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.01188), and demographic analyses revealed signatures of recent population expansion (Tajima's D = -2.223, p < 0.01). Population structure was limited, with 87.5% of variation occurring within populations, though significant differentiation was detected between Tabarka and Sfax (FST = 0.345, p < 0.05). This study reveals a distinct Tunisian mitochondrial lineage of D. gallinae and provides evidence for recent demographic expansion driven by poultry industry intensification and human-mediated dispersal. These findings expand the known genetic diversity of this economically important parasite and underscore the need for region-specific management strategies incorporating improved biosecurity measures to limit mite transmission through contaminated equipment and supply chains.