title: 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.
authors.affiliation: 1  Auckland Zoological Park, Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland 1022, New Zealand.|2  School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: 3  Hopkirk Research Institute, Massey University, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.affiliation: 4  New Zealand Veterinary Pathology, Auckland Zoological Park, Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland 1022, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: 2  School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Carly
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holyoake
authors.affiliation: 1  Auckland Zoological Park, Motions Road, Western Springs, Auckland 1022, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jakob-Hoff
authors.affiliation: 5  School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.|6  Biomolecular Interaction Centre, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Arvind
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varsani
authors.affiliation: 2  School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.affiliation: 2  School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D005241:Feathers / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008925:Mites / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009520:New Zealand; D010240:Parakeets / Q000469:parasitology*; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure
keywords: Biopsy; Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae; Knemidokoptinae; disease outbreak; mange; mites; parrots; wildlife disease