Structure and Dominance of Mite Communities Associated with Feathers of Commercial Laying Hens
2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: Suppl pages: 224
https://doi.org/10.24349/3vx8-pj5p
ICA 2026 - XVII International Congress of Acarology, 20-24 July 2026, Montpellier
Keywords
Megninia ginglymura
Cheyletus malaccensis
Blattisocius dentriticus
Poultry health
Tyrophagus putrescentiae
Abstract
This study evaluated the composition, abundance, body distribution, and population dynamics of mites in seven automated and california-type poultry houses in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil, from January to December 2024. This study was conducted in the municipalities of São Ludgero (28.60° S, 49.28° W) and São João do Itaperiú (26.55° S, 48.79° W), in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Sampling was performed monthly from January to December 2024, totaling 12 sampling events. Seven poultry houses were evaluated, distributed across two production systems: five fully automated houses and two california-type houses. During each sampling event, 10 birds per house were randomly selected, and five feathers were collected from standardized body regions: wing (outer surface), cloaca, dorsum (back), neck, and belly. These systems differed in terms of automation, physical structure, and environmental isolation, allowing comparisons of the composition and structure of mite communities associated with laying hen feathers. A total of 11,683 mites, belonging to 10 families and 13 species, were collected from the feathers of laying hens. Megninia ginglymura (Mégnin) (Analgidae) was the dominant species (89.2%), showing higher infestations on the back and wings in automated houses and on the vent in california-type houses, with population peaks during the warmer months. Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acaridae) accounted for 9.3% of the total, with abundance varying among houses and production systems. Predatory species, including Cheyletus malaccensis(Oudemans) (Cheyletidae) and Blattisocius dentriticus (Berlese) (Blattisociidae), were recorded in both systems, suggesting potential for biological control. Mite community diversity was low, with strong dominance by a few species, whereas Chao1-estimated richness indicated the presence of additional unsampled species. Ordination and evenness analyses revealed variation among houses but significant overlap in community structure. The spatial distribution of M. ginglymura was influenced by the interaction between body region and housing type, with seasonal fluctuations associated with temperature. These findings do not support the hypothesis that mite composition and diversity differ substantially between housing systems, while minor variations in richness and evenness were observed among houses, the prevalence of M. ginglymura and T. putrescentiae across all systems indicates a broadly similar community structure.These findings provide valuable insights for developing monitoring and integrated management strategies, contributing to the health and productivity of commercial poultry systems.
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