bird mites have been found to carry viral or rickettsial

[Guest guest]

Some bird mites have been found to carry viral or rickettsial pathogens, but

their significance as a vector for human infestation has not been demonstrated.2

However, it has been suggested that Ornithonyssus bacoti (the tropical rat mite)

may be responsible for the transmission of Rickettsia akari,1 so the potential

for transmission of rickettsial disease should not be ignored.

Blood-sucking mites are ectoparasites of a wide range of domestic and wild

birds, as well as small mammals and certain reptiles. Bird mites are an

important cause of ill health in poultry, and infestations result in decreased

egg production, weakness, and susceptibility to infection. Under unusual

circumstances, such as when breeding birds and their nestlings desert a nest,

mites may attack other vertebrate hosts, including humans.3,4 Insecticide

treatment of infested humans and temporary vacation of infested premises are not

sufficient to eliminate the problem because adult mites can survive for weeks or

months without feeding.3,5 Identification of bird mites can be attempted with a

microscope and illustrations from a standard parasitology text.1,2 Because most

bird mites are less than a millimetre long, a magnification of 40 to 100 times

is necessary for accurate identification.

>

> http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/full/76/5/967

>

> http://www.youtube.com/user/birdmitesandscabies#p/u/20/1VjXILvgXaM

>

>

http://www.ibabuzz.com/garybogue/2009/12/04/got-mysterious-bites-bed-bugs-rat-mi\

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tes-bird-mites-scabies-or/#more-1450

>

> Please note where this one came from. NOT CDC

>

>

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-pubs-cdi-2003-\

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cdi2702-htm-cdi2702k.htm

>

>

>

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-pubs-cdi-2003-\

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cdi2703-htm-cdi2703n.htm