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Dermatitis in a horse associated with the poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae).
Abstract: This is the first documented case report of dermatitis associated with the poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in a horse. It occurred in a 16-year-old horse that was in contact with domestic hens. Clinical signs consisted of severe pruritus, with self-induced hair loss mainly on the head. Despite the multiple skin scrapings performed during both day- and nighttime, mites were only isolated from the in-contact poultry and from the horse's environment, and not the horse. The animal was treated using a 2% permethrin solution, sprayed on the entire body once a week for 4 weeks, and by decontamination of the horse's immediate environment. Although eradication of the mites and elimination of further contact between the horse and the poultry were not achievable, recurrence of dermatitis was prevented by regular applications of permethrin on the horse and biannual decontamination of the horse's stable.
Publication Date: 2008-01-08 PubMed ID: 18177291DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2007.00646.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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Summary
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This research study focuses on the first known case of a horse suffering from dermatitis due to infestation from the poultry mite, also known as Dermanyssus gallinae. The horse in question, who had close contact with domestic hens, displayed severe pruritus and self-induced hair loss predominantly on the head. While mites were not found on the horse itself, they were discovered in the horse’s immediate surroundings and among the hen flock. An application of a 2% permethrin solution once a week for four weeks, along with environmental decontamination, helped mitigate the dermatitis, despite the impossibility of completely eradicating the mites or preventing subsequent horse-poultry interaction.
Background
- In this study, the researchers probe the first recorded instance of a horse afflicted by dermatitis brought on by Dermanyssus gallinae, also recognized as the poultry mite.
- The horse involved in the case study was aged 16, and had regular interaction with a flock of domestic hens.
- The affliction resulted in severe itching (pruritus) and loss of hair, predominantly on the head, due to self-inflicted damage.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted day and night skin scrapings on the horse, but did not find any mites on the animal itself.
- Nevertheless, mites were found in the horse’s immediate environment and on the hens it was in contact with.
Treatment and Outcome
- A treatment regimen was formulated utilizing a 2% permethrin solution, applied as a spray onto the horse’s entire body once per week for a total duration of four weeks.
- Moreover, efforts were made to decontaminate the horse’s immediate surroundings.
- Though this treatment did not result in complete eradication of the mites, and further contact between the horse and poultry could not be entirely prevented, the dermatitis did not recur.
- The prevention of recurrence was attributed to regular applications of the permethrin solution on the horse and biannual deep cleaning of the horse’s stable.
Cite This Article
APA
Mignon B, Losson B.
(2008).
Dermatitis in a horse associated with the poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae).
Vet Dermatol, 19(1), 38-43.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3164.2007.00646.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. bmignon@ulg.ac.be
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Dermatitis / diagnosis
- Dermatitis / veterinary
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Housing, Animal
- Male
- Mite Infestations / diagnosis
- Mite Infestations / veterinary
- Mites
- Poultry / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Gay M, Lempereur L, Francis F, Caparros Megido R. Control of Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778) and other mites with volatile organic compounds, a review. Parasitology 2020 Jun;147(7):731-739.
- Bhowmick B, Zhao J, Øines Ø, Bi T, Liao C, Zhang L, Han Q. Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Ornithonyssus sylviarum in chickens (Gallus gallus) from Hainan Island, China. Parasit Vectors 2019 Nov 21;12(1):553.
- Sokół R, Koziatek-Sadłowska S, Michalczyk M. The influence of Dermanyssus gallinae and different lighting regimens on selected blood proteins, corticosterone levels and egg production in layer hens. Vet Res Commun 2019 Feb;43(1):31-36.
- George DR, Finn RD, Graham KM, Mul MF, Maurer V, Moro CV, Sparagano OA. Should the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae be of wider concern for veterinary and medical science?. Parasit Vectors 2015 Mar 25;8:178.
- Hobbenaghi R, Tavassoli M, Alimehr M, Shokrpoor S, Ghorbanzadeghan M. Histopathological study of the mite biting (Dermanyssus gallinae) in poultry skin. Vet Res Forum 2012 Summer;3(3):205-8.
- Di Palma A, Giangaspero A, Cafiero MA, Germinara GS. A gallery of the key characters to ease identification of Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Gamasida: Dermanyssidae) and allow differentiation from Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acari: Gamasida: Macronyssidae). Parasit Vectors 2012 May 30;5:104.
- Locher N, Al-Rasheid KA, Abdel-Ghaffar F, Mehlhorn H. In vitro and field studies on the contact and fumigant toxicity of a neem-product (Mite-Stop) against the developmental stages of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae. Parasitol Res 2010 Jul;107(2):417-23.
- Sparagano O, Pavlićević A, Murano T, Camarda A, Sahibi H, Kilpinen O, Mul M, van Emous R, le Bouquin S, Hoel K, Cafiero MA. Prevalence and key figures for the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae infections in poultry farm systems. Exp Appl Acarol 2009 Jun;48(1-2):3-10.
- Marangi M, Cafiero MA, Capelli G, Camarda A, Sparagano OA, Giangaspero A. Evaluation of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae) susceptibility to some acaricides in field populations from Italy. Exp Appl Acarol 2009 Jun;48(1-2):11-8.
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