Production losses in laying hens during infestation with the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae

A research centre with 30,568 laying hens, kept in enriched cages and in aviaries, had become naturally infested with poultry red mites (PRM) in 32 of its 48 bird units. Therefore, at the age of 52 weeks all hens were treated with fluralaner through the drinking water. After this treatment, PRM were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Avian pathology 2019-09, Vol.48 (sup1), p.S17-S21
Main Authors: Sleeckx, Nathalie, Van Gorp, Stefaan, Koopman, Rik, Kempen, Ine, Van Hoye, Kristof, De Baere, Kris, Zoons, Johan, De Herdt, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aviaries
Birds
Body weight
Breeding
Cages
Chickens - growth & development
Chickens - parasitology
Dermanyssus
Drinking Water
Economics
Eggs
Farms
Female
fluralaner
hen
Infestation
Isoxazoles - administration & dosage
Livestock breeding
mite
Mite Infestations - parasitology
Mite Infestations - veterinary
Mites
Mites - physiology
Organizations
Poultry
Poultry Diseases - parasitology
Poultry housing
Pretreatment
production
Profitability
Statistical analysis
Statistical methods
Water treatment
Weight
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Summary:A research centre with 30,568 laying hens, kept in enriched cages and in aviaries, had become naturally infested with poultry red mites (PRM) in 32 of its 48 bird units. Therefore, at the age of 52 weeks all hens were treated with fluralaner through the drinking water. After this treatment, PRM were no longer observed. As all birds were of the same age, and since production figures were measured daily in all 48 units, this offered a unique opportunity to examine how PRM had affected performance. Statistical analyses were done to compare the evolution of production data from the pre-treatment to the post-treatment period in units that were visually free of PRM or infested with PRM to different levels. Production standards provided by the breeding organizations were used as a reference. The results demonstrated significant posttreatment increases of laying percentage, egg weight, egg mass, percentage first choice eggs, feed intake and body weight in heavily infested hens of one or both housing systems, as compared to the non-infested controls. These data confirm that PRM infestations can impact the main performance traits related to profitability of laying hen farms as well as the hens' general condition.
ISSN:0307-9457
1465-3338
DOI:10.1080/03079457.2019.1641179