Occurrence of Knemidokoptes mutans and Laminosioptes cysticola in backyard poultry in India

Abstract

Birds reared in backyard poultry farming system are more prone to parasitic infestation resulting in economic losses to rural community. The present study reports occurrence of Knemidokoptes mutans and Laminosioptes cysticola mites in a male Aseel bird. Clinical signs observed in the affected bird include hyperkeratosis with whitish film layer on shank and hock region of legs. Focal areas of sloughing of skin with oozing of blood were also observed on the back and on the legs. Examination of skin scrapings from the affected sites revealed different developmental stages of Knemidokoptes mutans and Laminosioptes cysticola mites. This paper reports occurrence of L. cysticola for the first time from India. The bird was treated with ivermectin injection through intramuscular route.

Introduction

In India, the indigenous Aseel birds are reared by rural farmers in their backyard without much emphasis on scientific feeding and managemental practices though they are the major source of protein to the rural community. Birds reared under backyard poultry farming system are prone to parasitic diseases caused by both ecto and endoparasites that result in loss of production and even death in severe infections. Ectoparasitism is an important factor associated with poor production in indigenous chicken due to irritation, damage of feathers and skin lesions (Calnek et al. 1991; Sabuni et al. 2010). Among mites, Knemidokoptes mutans is a common burrowing mite of poultry and cause knemidocoptic mange (scaly leg) that is associated with interference in flexion of joints leading to lameness and arthritis (Ikpeze et al. 2008). Laminosioptes cysticola, the fowl cyst mite is also an economically important mite, infesting the subcutaneous tissues of poultry and form nodules reducing the value of bird (Amure and Stuart 1977). Sometimes they even invade nervous tissues causing neurological disorder (Smith et al. 1997). Occurrence of scaly leg mite was reported from Bangladesh (Shanta et al. 2006), Zimbawe (Percy et al. 2012), Ethiopia (Tamiru et al. 2014) and India (Srinivasan et al. 2014) and fowl cyst mite from Iran (Eslami et al. 2009) and Kenya (Sabuni et al. 2010). However, there is lack of information on L. cysticola infestation in desi fowl from India hence concurrent occurrence of K. mutans and L. cysticola infestation in a cock and its therapeutic management is reported in this paper.

Materials and methods

A 2 years old male Aseel bird was referred to Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Gannavaram, India with a history of reduced feed and water intake, thickening of legs and scales on legs since 1 month and pecking the affected area. Clinical signs observed were severe hyperkeratosis with whitish film layer on shank and hock region of legs. Focal areas of sloughing of skin with oozing of blood were observed on the back and on the legs (Fig. 1). Based on history and signs skin scrapings from the affected regions were collected, processed in 10 % KOH solution and mites were identified microscopically (Kettle 1995).

Fig. 1.

Aseel bird with lesions on back and legs

Results and discussion

Microscopic examination of skin scraping revealed different developmental stages of Knemidokoptes mutans and Laminosioptes cysticola mites. Female K. mutans mite was identified based on its circular shape, absence of leg suckers and the separate epimeres (apodemes) from the coxa of first pair of legs (Fig. 2). Larva (Fig. 3) and nymphal (Fig. 4) stages of K. mutans were identified based on presence and absence of tarsal suckers on legs, respectively (Kettle 1995). Whereas L. cysticola was elongate oval in shape with two long setae from the posterior end of body and destitute of leg suckers (Fig. 5). In L. cysticola, epimeres from the coxa of first pair of legs were fused centrally forming Y shape (Figs. 6, 7) and was differentiated from male K. mutans mite in which suckers are present on all legs and epimeres of first pair of legs join in midline (Kettle 1995). Tarsal suckers were absent in larval stage of L. cysticola (Fig. 8). Hyperkeratotic lesions on legs were up to the lower end of the tarsus and unfeathered region of the skin (toes) was normal (Fig. 1). K. mutans burrow under the scales of legs and induce rough raised nodules with powdery appearance (Fig. 9). Lesions were in accordance with the report of Shanta et al. (2006) and Srinivasan et al. (2014).

Fig. 2.

Knemidocoptes mutans female mite (×400)—separate epimeres

Fig. 3.

K. mutans larva with tarsal suckers (×100)

Fig. 4.

K. mutans nymph without tarsal suckers (×400)

Fig. 5.

Adult of L. cysticola (×100)—with long setae from posterior end

Fig. 6.

Adult of L. cysticola (×100)—ventral side showing closed epimeres forming Y shape

Fig. 7.

Nymph of L. cysticola (×400)—ventral side showing closed epimeres forming Y shape

Fig. 8.

Larva of L. cysticola (×100) without tarsal suckers

Fig. 9.

Hyperkeratosis with whitish film layer on leg

Diagnosis of L. cysticola, depend on finding characteristic nodular lesions on the abdominal viscera, in the muscles and beneath the skin and by seeing the mites in nodules that are crushed in acidulated water (Calnek et al. 1991). Identification of L. cysticola in skin scrapings in present case indicates that the nodules might be beneath the skin and could be discovered from the epidermic scurf (Neumann 2003) or the infestation could be in initial stage on the skin (Calnek et al. 1991) that could be diagnosed from scrapings collected from skin of back and legs with oozing of blood. Occurrence of knemidocoptic mange has been reported from Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (Chauhan and Roy 2012) and Tamil Nadu (Srinivasan et al. 2014) states of India; however there is lack of information from Andhra Pradesh state. Moreover, to the author’s knowledge the occurrence of L. cysticola is the first report from India. No effective treatment for control of L. cysticola mite is reported except the destruction of affected bird (Calnek et al. 1991) but ivermectin could be effective (Philips 2013). As K. mutans mites are burrowing mites, the bird was treated twice with ivermectin (200 µg/kg bwt) through intramuscular route at a week interval. Finally owner was advised to separate diseased from healthy birds as mange spread through skin contact.