Hostname: page-component-5db58dd55d-bthnr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-06-15T03:56:48.940Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comparison of synthetic membranes in the development of an in vitro feeding system for Dermanyssus gallinae

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 May 2009

D.W.J. Harrington ,
J.H. Guy ,
K. Robinson  and
O.A.E. Sparagano
D.W.J. Harrington
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
J.H. Guy
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
K. Robinson
Affiliation:
Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
O.A.E. Sparagano*
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
*
*Author for correspondence Fax: (+44) 01912226720 E-mail: olivier.sparagano@ncl.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Although artificial feeding models for the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) most frequently use biological membranes consisting of day-old chick skin, there are ethical considerations associated with the use of skin. The few studies reported in the literature that have investigated the use of synthetic membranes to feed D. gallinae in vitro have reported limited success. The current study describes an investigation into the use of synthetic membranes made from either Nescofilm® or rayon and silicone, used either alone or in combination with different feather or skin extracts, as well as the use of capillary tubes. In all, 12 different treatments were used, and the feeding rate of D. gallinae was compared to that of day-old chick skin. Allowing mites to feed on a membrane consisting of Nescofilm with a skin extract resulted in the highest proportion of mites feeding (32.3%), which was not significantly different to the feeding rate of mites on day-old chick skin (38.8%). This study confirms that synthetic membranes can be used to feed D. gallinae artificially. Further optimization of the membrane and mite storage conditions is still necessary, but the study demonstrates a proof of concept.

Keywords

Dermanyssus gallinaesynthetic membranesin vitro feedingarthropods

Information

Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 100 , Issue 2 , April 2010 , pp. 127 - 132
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Arkle, S., Harrington, D., de Luna, C., George, D., Guy, J. & Sparagano, O.A.E. (2008) Immunological control of poultry red mite: the use of whole mite antigens as a candidate vaccine. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1149, 36–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruneau, A., Dernburg, A., Chauve, C. & Zenner, L. (2001) First in vitro cycle of the chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (DeGeer, 1778), utilizing an artificial feeding device. Parasitology 123, 583–589.Google Scholar
Carroll, J.F., Young, K.W. & Bruce, W.A. (1992) Simple in vitro feeding system for northern fowl mites (Acari: Macronyssidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 85, 848–852.Google Scholar
Chauve, C. (1998) The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778): current situation and future prospects for control. Veterinary Parasitology 79, 239–245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
George, D.R., Callaghan, K., Guy, J.H. & Sparagano, O.A.E. (2008) Lack of prolonged activity of lavender essential oils as acaricides against the poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) under laboratory conditions. Research in Veterinary Science 85, 540–542.Google Scholar
Harrington, D., Mohi El Din, H., Guy, J., Robinson, K. & Sparagano, O. (2009) Characterization of the immune response of domestic fowl following immunization with proteins extracted from Dermanyssus gallinae. Veterinary Parasitology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.11.004.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kilpinen, O. (2001) Activation of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae), by increasing temperatures. Experimental and Applied Acarology 25, 859–867.Google Scholar
Kilpinen, O. (2005) How to obtain a bloodmeal without being eaten by a host: the case of the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae. Physiological Entomology 30, 232–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kilpinen, O., Roepstorff, A., Permin, A., Norgaard-Nielsen, G., Lawson, L.G. & Simonsen, H.B. (2005) Influence of Dermanyssus gallinae and Ascaridia galli infections on behaviour and health of laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus). British Poultry Science 46, 26–34.Google Scholar
Kirkwood, A.C. (1968) Some observations on the feeding habits of the poultry mites Dermanyssus gallinae and Liponyssus sylviarum. Experimental and Applied Entomology 11, 315–320.Google Scholar
Kocan, K.M., Yoshioka, J., Sonenshine, D.E., de la Fuente, J., Ceraul, S.M., Blouin, E.F. & Almazán, C. (2005) Capillary tube feeding system for studying tick-pathogen interactions of Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) and Anaplasma marginale (Rickettsiales: Anaplasmataceae). Journal of Medical Entomology 42, 864–874.Google Scholar
Kowalski, A., Sokół, R. & Jedlińska-Krakowska, M. (2006) Influence of red mite Dermanyssus gallinae invasions on corticosterone and haematological levels and immunological indices in egg-laying hens. Medycyna Weterynaryjna 62, 1188–1190.Google Scholar
Kröber, T. & Guerin, P.M. (2007a) In vitro feeding assays for hard ticks. Trends in Parasitology 23, 445–449.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kröber, T. & Guerin, P.M. (2007b) An in vitro feeding assay to test acaricides for control of hard ticks. Pest Management Science 63, 17–22.Google Scholar
Lucky, A.W., Sayers, C.P., Argus, J.D. & Lucky, A. (2001) Avian mite bites acquired from a new source-pet gerbils. Archives of Dermatology 137, 167–170.Google Scholar
McDevitt, R., Nisbet, A.J. & Huntley, J.F. (2006) Ability of a proteinase inhibitor mixture to kill poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae in an in vitro feeding system. Veterinary Parasitology 141, 380–385.Google Scholar
Mignon, B. & Losson, B. (2008) Dermatitis in a horse associated with the poultry mite (Dermanyssus gallinae). Veterinary Dermatology 19, 38–43.Google Scholar
Rosen, S., Yeruham, I. & Braverman, Y. (2002) Dermatitis in humans associated with the mites Pyemotes tritici, Dermanyssus gallinae, Ornithonyssus bacoti and Androlaelaps casalis in Israel. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 16, 442–444.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thind, B.B. & Ford, H.L. (2007) Maintaining Psoroptes ovis (Acari: Psoroptidae) off-host in the laboratory. Experimental and Applied Acarology 43, 205–211.Google Scholar
Tucci, E.C. (1997) A laboratory method for the rearing of Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer, 1778) (Acari, Dermanyssidae). Arquivos do Instituto Biológico 64, 1–4.Google Scholar
Zeman, P. (1988) Surface skin lipids of birds-a proper host kairomone and feeding inducer in the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae. Experimental and Applied Acarology 5, 163–173.Google Scholar