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Occurrence of Ornithonyssus sylviarum in pet birds from the district of Setúbal, Portugal

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Abstract

Ornithonyssus sylviarum is a blood-feeding ectoparasite of birds and the most serious pest in poultry farms in North America. Although the mites are typically adapted to temperate climates, information on this mite in Europe is sparse, and Dermanyssus gallinae is considered to be the only mite impacting the poultry industry. The present study reports the occurrence of O. sylviarum in pet birds in Portugal. Mites were collected directly from birds and with traps placed in cages and nests at 20 different sampling places belonging to 6 municipalities in the district of Setúbal. In a total of 217 birds, O. sylviarum was identified in 47 out of 147 (32.0%) canaries (Serinus canaria), 14 out of 21 (14.3%) estrildid finches, 1 out of 24 (4.2%) budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and 1 out of 15 (6.7%) lovebirds (Agapornis spp.). Mites of the genus Dermanyssus were identified in 8 canaries (5.4%), 8 estrildid finches (38.1%) and 1 lovebird (6.7%). No mites were found in 6 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), 2 African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), 1 Bourke’s parrot (Neophema bourkii) and 1 rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri). Considering the zoonotic potential and the risk of dissemination to poultry, the present findings underline the need for further monitoring of O. sylviarum in the wild and domestic avifauna in Portugal.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Lucinda Marques and Maria do Carmo Ramos (INIAV/Parasitology Laboratory) for their valuable technical assistance.

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  1. Helga Waap and Diana Paulino contributed equally to this manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal

    Helga Waap

  2. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal

    Diana Paulino

  3. Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Rita Cardoso

  4. Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal

    Rita Cardoso

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  1. Helga Waap
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  2. Diana Paulino
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  3. Rita Cardoso
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Correspondence to Helga Waap.

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Waap, H., Paulino, D. & Cardoso, R. Occurrence of Ornithonyssus sylviarum in pet birds from the district of Setúbal, Portugal. Parasitol Res 116, 2041–2046 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5486-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-017-5486-y

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