title: Impeding movement of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae.
abstract: The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is an economically important hematophagous parasite of commercial egg laying hens, also affecting domesticated birds and companion animals. Conventional control of D. gallinae through acaricidal spraying is often ineffective, creating an urgent need to identify alternative management strategies for commercial and domestic infestations. Whilst integrated pest management is being considered for D. gallinae, the potential of impeding mite 'migration' routes, to either prevent initial infestation or manage established populations, has not been researched. Here we demonstrate that barriers of insecticidal glue, double sided sticky tape and thyme oil can contain D. gallinae within a specified area of a petri dish (78-88% of total mite population) and this level of containment was significantly greater than for negative controls (p values <0.05). Further studies in poultry houses are recommended to investigate the efficacy of these barriers in real world application and identity potential for barriers as a strategy for mite control.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: jpritchard@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: tkuester@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Küster
authors.affiliation: Stockbridge Technology Centre, North Yorkshire YO8 3TZ, UK. Electronic address: david.george@stc-nyorks.co.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Vice-Chancellor Office, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK. Electronic address: Olivier.sparagano@coventry.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sparagano
authors.affiliation: The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Department of Pathology and Pathogen Biology, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK. Electronic address: ftomley@rvc.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001107:Architectural Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000494:pharmacology; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D013983:Tick Control / Q000379:methods*; D014324:Trombiculidae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009822:Oils, Volatile
keywords: Dermanyssus gallinae; Insecticidal glue; Migration; Physical control; Poultry red mite; Thyme oil