Chlamydia psittaci infection in canaries heavily infested by Dermanyssus gallinae

Abstract

Dermanyssus gallinae is a haematophagous ectoparasite responsible for anemia, weight loss, dermatitis and a decrease in egg production. Dermanyssus gallinae may play a role in the modulation of the host immune system, maybe predisposing the host to some bacterial infections such as chlamydiosis. This is an important zoonosis. Humans are exposed to Chlamydia psittaci through inhalation of the agent dispersed from the infected birds. In this study, a syndrome observed in an aviary of canaries was investigated. A heavy infestation by D. gallinae was reported. Simultaneously, a C. psittaci infection was molecularly confirmed in the canaries. Combined therapy was applied successfully. The association of C. psittaci with the examined mites has been confirmed. Therefore, we think that D. gallinae have played a role in the spreading of C. psittaci infection among the canaries. Moreover, D.gallinae could have played an important role predisposing the canaries to the development of chlamydiosis, by inducing anemia and debilitation. The control of mites in the aviaries may represent a crucial step for the prevention of important infection such as chlamydiosis in birds and humans.

Dermanyssus gallinae(chicken mite): an underdiagnosed environmental infestation

“…Many pathogens such as Chlamydia psittaci , Erysipelotrix rhusiopathiae , Escherichia coli , and Salmonella , Shigella and Staphylococcus species have been isolated from the blood of mites, and it has been linked to cases of spirochaetosis, chicken pox, Newcastle disease, typhoid fever, fowl cholera and equine encephalitis, with transmission occurring between birds. No cases of transmission to humans have yet been reported 9,10 …”

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

“…Pets can be also infested with D. gallinae, including canaries [12] which for the first time we report here as source of human infestations, such as previously recorded for pet gerbils [13]. The meaning of these mites in public health also stems from their role as potential allergens and reservoirs/vectors of zoonotic pathogens [14]; recently, Bartonella quintana and both Lyme Disease and Q Fever agents have been detected in Dermanyssus mite species collected from urban outbreaks of human dermatitis [15,16].…”

Zoonoses in pet birds: review and perspectives

“…D. gallinae could moreover transfer this pathogen [24-26]. This reinforces the urgent need for hygienic measures to be applied in places of risk, i.e.…”

“…D. gallinae is a nocturnal haematophagous ectoparasite and has been described to cause an important debilitation by exsanguination, involving high mortality rate in newborns, and sometimes in hens. D. gallinae has also been proven to transmit zoonotic pathogens [23-25], such as C. psittaci [26], Coxiella burnetii [24,25], Salmonella spp. [27-29], Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae [30,31], Listeria monocytogenes [24,25] and viruses like Fowl pox virus [24].…”

“…Psittacine species are highly sensitive to this pathogen, but passerines are not excluded [26,41,56]. Human symptoms come from mild respiratory signs to severe pneumonia, with localization in several organs leading to diarrhea, conjunctivitis, arthritis and genital organ infection.…”