TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - Structure and Dominance of Mite Communities Associated with Feathers of Commercial Laying Hens
VL  - 66
IS  - Suppl
SP  - 224
EP  - 224
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Noeli Juarez, Ferla
AU  - Naiara, Vinhas
AU  - Darliane Evangelho, Silva
AU  - Tairis, Costa
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/3vx8-pj5p
DO  - 10.24349/3vx8-pj5p
DA  - 2026-07-20
ET  - 2026-07-20
KW  - Megninia ginglymura
KW  - Cheyletus malaccensis
KW  - Blattisocius dentriticus
KW  - Poultry health
KW  - Tyrophagus putrescentiae
AB  - 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.
ER -