Effects of dustbathing on poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in Japanese quail chicks

Dermanyssus gallinae is an ectoparasite on poultry. In this study, effect of dust bathing on poultry red mite in Japanese quail chicks was investigated. The study was conducted under same conditions in two experiments, except of infestation density. Infestation density is low in the first experiment and is high in the second experiment. In each experiment, 80 one week old chicks were used. Food and water are offered ad-libitum and lighting program was practiced 16 L: 8 D. Behaviour observations, live weight and feed consumption were performed weekly. Erythrocytes, leukocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit and leukocytes types values were determined in the end of the experiments. Bilateral organs were measured; gizzard, heart, liver and spleen weights were observed. In the first experiment the finished live weights of control and infestation groups were 249,2 g and 242,3, respectively (P≥0,05). Infestation group tend 96% more to preening than control group (P≤0,05). Eosinophil values of control and infested groups werer %5,8 and 18,5% respectively; hemoglobin value 9,6 g/dl and 7,7 g/dl in the same order (P≤0,05). Infested birds were significantly higher asymmetric in the tibia length (P≤0,05). In the second experiment, finished live weights of control and infestation groups were 231,8 g and 205,0 g, respectively (P≤0,05). Infestation group tend 98% more to preening than control group (P≤0,05). Hemoglobin, erythrocyte and hematocrit value are for infested group 5,5 g/dl, 1,8x106/1mm3 and 29,4%, respectively; for control group 11,3 g/dl, 3,8x106/1mm3 and 43,5%, respectively (P=0,0001). There were no asymmetries found related to bilateral organs in the second experiment (P≥0,05) Relative weight of spleen were observed 0,8% in control group, and 0,10% in infested group (P=0,0595). The mortality rate was higher in second experiment than in first experiment. (P≤0,05). Although the low infestation has no detrimental effects in the first experiment, nevertheless the lower hemoglobin values and higher preening showing that the well-being of the animals negatively affected. Dust bathing have no effect on the infestation