April 2, 2008

Red mite may spread salmonella in poultry

Red mites could be spreading salmonella among birds and flocks, according to UK's Farmers' Weekly.

Mites are already known for transmitting diseases such as fowl cholera, fowl typhoid and the chicken pox virus, said Kiotechagil's Mike Rogers. The fact they feed by sucking blood means they can also theoretically transmit salmonella through contaminated blood, he said.

Mites, both the red mite and the northern fowl mite have long been regarded as being one of the most common for the poultry sector, causing declines in egg production, anaemia and even death.

While red mites feed on the birds for about 1-2 hours each night, the northern fowl mite breeds continually on the bird and it therefore poses a thornier problem.