Eradication of Dermanyssus gallinae in Industrial Poultry Production

Abstract

The multi-decade increases in the prevalence of Dermanyssus gallinae in poultry production, together with all its harmful consequences, is the best indicator of the ineffectiveness of the control measures implemented to date. This experience should serve as a call to re-evaluate the current approach to the control of D. gallinae. In order to halt and subsequently reverse this negative trend, the primary objective of control, instead of suppression, should be the elimination—eradication—of D. gallinae from industrial facilities and farms.

Eradication of D. gallinae is a demanding and conditional, yet feasible, health- and environmentally justified and economically most cost-effective procedure. Under certain conditions, it can be achieved using acaricides, SiO₂, inert oils, and/or their combinations. However, the possibility of eradicating D. gallinae has not been accepted to date. The strictest criterion for evaluating eradication success has been established, namely that during regular inspections not a single D. gallinae specimen may be detected for at least one year after completion of the control program and restocking of the flock. Under these criteria, the presented study results unequivocally confirm the possibility of eradicating D. gallinae from production facilities and farms.