Lithium Chloride Shows Effectiveness against the Poultry Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)

Challenges of Dermanyssus gallinae in Poultry: Biological Insights, Economic Impact and Management Strategies

Bird mites are parasites that feed on both wild and domesticated bird species, causing severe degradation in avian welfare. The chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae in particular, is a widespread ectoparasite in poultry, responsible for several challenges faced by the poultry industry, including poor animal health, which causes significant economic losses. This review, based on our current knowledge, aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the biology and distribution of these mites, as well as their impact on poultry health and production. It explores the most prevalent mites in avian species, with a focus on D. gallinae, and examines the different psychological and physiological alterations observed in infected stocks, such as decreased egg production, weight loss, and an increased susceptibility to diseases. This review will also cover existing control strategies, including chemical, biological, and environmental approaches, with attention to the growing concern around pesticide resistance. Additionally, it delves into genetic research conducted on these mites, primarily focusing on phylogenetic studies, which have provided insights into their evolutionary relationships and potential vulnerabilities. By compiling existing studies, this article underscores the urgent need for effective and sustainable countermeasures, as well as further genetic research to mitigate the substantial impact of D. gallinae on the poultry sector.

Parasiticidal Properties of Nanoemulsion-Based Plant Essential Oil Formulations for Controlling Poultry Ectoparasites in Farm Conditions

Nanoemulsion-based plant essential oil formulations (NEOFs) have shown remarkable parasiticidal properties in laboratory settings, suggesting the potential for practical farm applications. This study investigates the efficacy of NEOFs-comprising clove and cinnamon essential oils (EOs)-in controlling poultry ectoparasites under real farm conditions. We evaluated the impact of NEOFs on ectoparasite populations, egg-laying performance, egg quality, leukocyte profiles in chicken blood, and potential insecticide residues in eggs. Conducted across various poultry farms, the results revealed that NEOFs achieved an over 95% ectoparasite eradication after two treatments, compared to significantly higher ectoparasite populations in untreated control groups. Egg production was notably higher in NEOF-treated flocks, and the feed conversion ratio was improved. No significant differences in leukocyte profiles were observed between the treated and control groups. In contrast, cypermethrin residues were detectable in eggs for more than eight weeks post-treatment. NEOFs achieved an over 97% ectoparasite extermination within seven days post-treatment, with farmer satisfaction averaging 4.83 out of 5.00. These findings position NEOFs as a highly effective, environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides for managing poultry ectoparasites, offering a viable solution for sustainable poultry farming.

Efficacy of In Vitro Lithium Chloride Treatments on Dermacentor reticulatus

Dermacentor reticulatus (Fabr., 1794) (Acari: Ixodidae) is parasite that spreads many diseases which are dangerous to humans and animals. Microelement lithium was found to have promising potential against the detrimental bee pest Varroa destructor. Furthermore, its effectiveness was confirmed against Dermanyssus gallinae, a major parasite of poultry, in vitro. In the present study, we investigated whether the efficacy of lithium chloride extends to other parasitic species, such as D. reticulatus. Our results revealed, for the first time, that the effectiveness of lithium chloride extends to D. reticulatus, confirmed to have 100% mortality at a relatively high minimum concentration of 1.38 M in vitro. The 24 h and 48 h median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values proved to be 0.654 M and 0.481 M, respectively, for this species. Our pilot study may contribute to a better understanding of the properties of lithium ion. Furthermore, it may elicit further studies aiming to reveal whether the different environmental mineral conditions may influence the D. reticulatus population. Further studies might reveal whether lithium has any possible veterinary relevance.

Isotopic and Elemental Fingerprint of Edible Egg Parts-The Health Risk Assessment Based on Potentially Toxic Elements Content

The present study investigated the isotopic and elemental profile (by IRMS and ICP-MS) of edible egg parts (29 egg whites and 29 yolks) mainly collected from Romania. In order to differentiate the egg white and yolk coming from different hen rearing systems (backyard and barn), Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) models were developed. The models' accuracies for the discrimination according to the hen growing system were 96% for egg white and 100% for egg yolk samples, respectively. Elements that proved to have the highest discrimination power for both egg white and yolk were the following: δ13C, Li, B, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ba, La, Ce, and Pb. Nevertheless, the important compositional differentiation, in terms of essential mineral content, between the edible egg parts (egg white and egg yolk) were also pointed out. The estimated daily intake (EDI), the target hazard quotient (THQ) for Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, Pb, and As, as well as the hazard index (HI) were used to assess non-carcinogenic human health risks from egg consumption. The obtained results showed no noticeable health risks related to egg consumption for humans from the point of view of the potentially toxic metals.