Dermanyssus gallinae as a pathogen vector: Phylogenetic analysis and associated health risks in pigeons

Dermanyssus gallinae (D. gallinae) is a nocturnal, blood-feeding ectoparasite that primarily infests poultry, causing significant economic losses. This study aimed to identify poultry red mites and detect associated pathogens using morphological and molecular techniques. Mites and blood samples were collected from naturally infected pigeons. Mite species and blood parasites were identified morphologically, while representative pooled mite samples were cultured on general and selective media to detect microbial pathogens. Molecular identification of mites was conducted using PCR targeting the cytochrome oxidase I (COXI) mitochondrial gene, 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and 16S rRNA for parasites and microbial pathogens, respectively. BLAST analysis of the COXI sequence confirmed a high similarity to D. gallinae. Screening of 100 pooled mite samples revealed vector-borne pathogens, with Haemoproteus and Plasmodium parasites detected in 18 % and 3 % of mite samples and 15 % and 2 % of blood samples, respectively. Microbiological cultures and molecular analyses identified five bacterial species: Staphylococcus aureus (76 %), Escherichia coli (41 %), Klebsiella pneumoniae (29 %), Salmonella enterica (21 %), and Listeria monocytogenes (11 %). Additionally, two fungal species were detected: Candida albicans (7 %) and Cryptococcus neoformans (9 %). This study underscores the association of D. gallinae with various pathogens, though its role in transmission remains unclear. Further research is needed to evaluate the biological implications of these associations and the associated health risks.