Hi Kam31, Mite can do more damage than most think,
Feather mites(familyAnalgesidae)
often show specific preferences for different locationson thefeathers or for specific types of feather. Quill mites (Syringophilus, Dermoglyphus) burrow into the feather shaft resulting in a powdery-white appearance. After the feather has been eaten away the calamus remains within the follicle which may fail to regenerate normal feathers. The mites can be demonstrated amongst the powdery debris squeezed out of an affected feather shaft. Many species of Cnemidocoptesmites cause mangein birds. The most common are C. mutansof poultry and C. pilae in budgerigars (and many other parrots) and canaries. The mites spend their entire life on the bird. The lesions can occur on any featherless part of the skin and are characterised by raised honeycombed encrustations on the cere, beak, eyelids and feet. Occasionally it becomes generalised and affects feather follicles. Cnemidocoptic mange is easily controlled with 2 treatments of moxidectin or ivermectin (200 μg/kg) 4 weeks apart. The drug can diluted and administered directly to the skin or in the drinking water. Dermanyssus gallinae and Ornithonyssus sylvarium are large mites which attack poultry and other bird species. They are blood sucking mites which may be found on or off the host. Dermanyssus lay eggs off the host, Ornithonyssus on the host. Their life cycle is completed in 7 days. Heavy infection causes irritation and anaemia. Both mites may infect humans causing pruritis. Wild birds (particularly sparrows and starlings) nesting in houses are sometimes the source of mites which attack humans. Mites are probably the most common ectoparasite that affect birds. They are usually smaller than 2 mm and transmit many diseases Feather mite –
Dermanyssus gallinae (red mite)•
White when fasting, red when eating
•
Can affect all birds, not so much raptors and psittacine birds
•
Does not live on bird - visits at night
•
Feeds at night. Female lays eggs 12 hours after a feed, hatch in 48 hours
•
Adults survive 8-12 months without feeding
•
Not common on raptors and psittacine birds
Northern Mite – Ornithonyssus sylvarum•
Life cycle entirely on host
•
Can survive only a few days off host
•
Most bird species susceptible
•
Direct transmission
•
Ornithonyssus sp commonly found on nestling psittacine birds.
•
Mites can survive up to 4 weeks off the host (Arends, 1997).
Lice
Many species of lice can affect the skin of birds usually without feather damage. Lice are larger than mites and are usually apathogenic although they may cause a mild pruritis. Dull, damaged feathers, presence of eggs.
•
Very common external parasites of birds - larger than mites.
•
Dorso-ventrally flattened body.
•
No wings, legs have hooks at the end
•
Eggs laid on feathers
•
Heaviest infections on sick birds
•
They tend to be HOST-specific - transmission direct
•
Pruritis, damaged feathers, dull plumage
•
Lice can be seen with eyes – but do you observe them????
•
Presence of eggs – some look like wasp nests around calamus
•
Treatment - once a week, 2-3 times:
<
pyrethrin-based insecticides
<
Ivermectin/moxidectin for BITING lice
<
Lice cannot survive away from the host so treatment of the environment is not
absolutely essential.
Hope this helps
Thanks
P.A