KNEMIDOKOPTINID (EPIDERMOPTIDAE: KNEMIDOKOPTINAE) MITE INFESTATION IN WILD RED-CROWNED PARAKEETS (CYANORAMPHUS NOVAEZELANDIAE): CORRELATIONS BETWEEN MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS

Abstract

During a study on health and disease in Red-crowned Parakeets (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) on Tiritiri Matangi Island and Little Barrier Island (Hauturu-o-Toi) in New Zealand between 2011 and 2013, an outbreak of feather loss prompted the collection of skin biopsies (n = 135) under anesthesia from the head of captured birds. A subset of samples (n = 7) was frozen to obtain whole specimens for identification of ectoparasites. Mites (range 1-11) were observed in 79/135 (58.5%) skin biopsies, whereas feather loss was only found in 47/142 (33.1%) birds captured during the sampling period. Compact orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and acanthosis were found in association with mites. Procnemidocoptes janssensi (Acari: Epidermoptidae, Knemidokoptinae) was identified from whole mites obtained from skin biopsies. We describe the presence, pathology, and stages of infestation for knemidokoptinid mange in a wild parrot population in New Zealand. Given the clinical and pathologic changes observed and poor knowledge of the parasite's New Zealand host and geographic distribution, further work is recommended for this and sympatric parrots, to understand relationships between the host, parasite, environment, and expression of disease. Results from this study reinforce the value of including biopsy samples for the investigation of skin disease in wild birds, particularly to link etiologic agents with pathologic changes.

Parasitic Diseases of Fancy Birds

“…Knemidocoptes pilae is also called Cnemidocoptes pilae, which causes a scaly face in budgerigars and psittacine species (Jackson et al 2015). In budgerigars, white, porous, and proliferative hard covering involves the base of the upper beak, corner of the mouth, periorbital area, legs, and vent.…”

Atypical Knemidokoptosis in Two Dunnocks (Prunella modularis) in Southern England

“…Knemidokoptes jamaicensis is the mite most frequently reported in wild birds, having been detected in over 40 species of passerine globally (Dabert et al 2013;Jackson et al 2015;Janra et al 2018).…”

Developmental morphology of <i>Knemidokoptes pilae</i> on an infested red-crowned parakeet (<i>Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae</i>)

“…has yet to be clearly elucidated. For example, K. gallinae is ovoviviparous [ 15 ], K. jamaicensis is viviparous [ 4 ], and adult females of other Knemidokoptidae species are larviparous [ 7 ]. In this study, multiple embryonated eggs (300 µ m long by 200 µ m wide) were observed ( Fig.…”