Possibilities for IPM Strategies in European Laying Hen Farms for Improved Control of the Poultry Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae): Details and State of Affairs

Abstract

The Poultry Red Mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae , is a major threat to the poultry industry worldwide, causing serious problems to animal health and welfare, and huge economic losses. Controlling PRM infestations is very challenging. Conventionally, D. gallinae is treated with synthetic acaricides, but the particular lifestyle of the mite (most of the time spent off the host) makes the efficacy of acaracide sprays often unsatisfactory, as sprays reach only a small part of the population. Moreover, many acaricides have been unlicensed due to human consumer and safety regulations and mites have become resistant to them. A promising course of action is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which is sustainable for animals, humans and the environment. It combines eight different steps, in which prevention of introduction and monitoring of the pest are key. Further, it focusses on non-chemical treatments, with chemicals only being used as a last resort. Whereas IPM is already widely applied in horticulture, its application is still in its infancy to control D. gallinae in layer houses. This review presents the currently-available possibilities for control of D. gallinae in layer houses for each of the eight IPM steps, including monitoring techniques, established and emerging non-chemical treatments, and the strategic use of chemicals. As such, it provides a needed baseline for future development of specific IPM strategies, which will allow efficient and sustainable control of D. gallinae in poultry farms.

Entomopathogenic Fungi and Bacteria in a Veterinary Perspective

“…Dermanyssus gallinae (poultry red mite) is very common in layer houses and is considered as the most damaging to laying hens worldwide [212]. The mite belongs to order Mesostigmata and mainly live at all stages in the environment, in cracks or crevices near the hosts' resting sites, feeding intermittently (every 2-4 days) for short periods (up to 1 h) on the birds during the dark hours [213][214][215]. Its life cycle (from egg to adult) is completed in one to two weeks and takes place through eggs, larvae, two nymphal stages and adults.…”

“…Chemical acaricides in the environment have been widely applied [215,218,225]. However, a widespread resistance to such molecules has been recorded in the last few decades [218,[226][227][228][229][230]; moreover, many acaricides have been withdrawn from the European market [218].…”

Dermanyssus gallinae: the long journey of the poultry red mite to become a vector

“…In addition, in highly infested environments, poultry workers may also be at risk of infestation by PRMs, with clinical conditions varying from itching, dermatitis and erythematous rashes to papules, urticarial plaques and erythema [ 3 – 7 ]. The control strategies mostly rely on the application of synthetic or semisynthetic acaricides [ 8 ], with phoxim, fluralaner and spinosad being among the few acaricides authorized worldwide [ 9 ]. However, the development of mite populations resistant to these chemical compounds has often led farmers to use unauthorized drugs, such as amitraz or fipronil, which could be harmful to human health [ 10 ].…”

Repellent properties of natural substances against Dermanyssus gallinae: review of knowledge and prospects for Integrated Pest Management

“…IPM is already widely implemented in horticulture and field crops (Munk et al 2020). However, current adoption of IPM strategies in animal production, and specifically in poultry farms, is limited by comparison and a major challenge for advanced sustainable egg production (Decru et al 2020). IPM is based on three main principles: (1) the prevention and monitoring of pest populations and the application of treatments according to critical thresholds, (2) the promotion of alternative control methods (synthetic pesticides should be used as a last resort) and (3) the anticipation of resistance against alternative control means ( Barzman et al 2015).…”