Molecular basis of pathogenicity of chicken red mite to chickens

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Chicken red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) is a phlebotomic external parasite that mainly infests avian species. It has been a serious problem worldwide, especially in layer chicken farms. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of the mites. Infested chickens developed antibodies to two proteins with sizes of 53kDa and 56kDa, which appeared to have been secreted by the mites during blood sucking. Expression levels of some cytokine genes in peripheral blood monocytes of severely infested chickens suggested suppression of the immune system. The genes of some avian pathogens were also detected in the mites. These findings demonstrate the importance of disinfestation of the mites to prevent their direct harmful effects as well as the spread of infectious diseases.