DERMANYSSUS GALLINAE and its public Health consequences

The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is best known as a threat to the laying hen industry, adversely affecting hen health and welfare through both its feeding behavior and role as disease vector. However, due to its genetic plasticity, PRM attacks wild and synanthropic birds as well and, more importantly, has consequences in non-avian hosts, particularly humans. Poultry workers, farmers, technicians and veterinarians are most at risk for dermanyssosis and the inclusion of PRM as an occupational hazard has been recommended. In the mean time, reports of dermatological complaints have increased in frequency, in several countries, including residential town settings (private homes, hospitals, public offices), typically linked to nearby feral (pigeons, sparrows, etc.) (mostly recently-abandoned) birds’ nests. Attacks of D. gallinae to humans cause pruritus, skin lesions characterized by small erythematous papules -mostly concentrated on arms, hands, chest, legs - which are often misdiagnosed by medical clinicians. The medical significance of dermanyssosis is exacerbated by the potential of the PRM to carry and transmit zoonotic diseases of both bacterial and viral origin. Additionally, in the poultry farm context, since chemicals are still the dominant means of PRM control, they may have adverse effects on humans, both directly, for workers exposed to chemicals and indirectly through consumption of poultry meat and eggs containing pesticide residues. The recent scandal on the use of an unlicensed product (fipronil) provides clear evidence of such risk. The CoReMi COST Action also focuses on the One Health paradigm, aimed to encourage interactions and exchange information among medical practitioners, environmentalists, veterinarians, academics, industrial researchers, and promoting actions for an increase awareness of D. gallinae infestations in humans, mite identification, development of diagnostic tools, advance and use of non-chemicals control measures, in order to limit the consequences of D. gallinae and safeguard animal, human and environmental health. The authors wish to thank the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST Action (FA1404 - COREMI)“Improving current understanding and research for sustainable control of the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae”).