Pruritic of obscure origin in city-dwellers? Keep in mind the poultry red mite, gallinae (, ) Galante D., Raele D.A., Lomuto M., Nardella C., La Salandra G., Piccirilli E., Cafiero M.A. Corresponding authors: [email protected] Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, Foggia, Italy. [email protected]

Introduction & Objectives: The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae is a temporary blood-sucking ectoparasite of birds worldwide, including feral pigeons. It can also bite mammals, including humans and cause nonspecific pruritic skin disorders. We report a large case series of urban PRM-related dermatitis in humans. Materials & Methods: In 2001-2017 years, the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata (IZSPB), Medical Entomology Laboratory, received from Public Health Services/Physicians/privates samples of to identify. They were suspected to be related to 20 outbreaks of pruritic skin disorders in city-dwellers. Parasites were collected in public and private edifices. A total of 54 subjects (49 adults, 5 children) were involved. The dermatitis started in spring-summer and lasted from 1 week to 9 months with skin lesions diffuse or almost exclusively on hands, arms and legs. In 14 (14/20) cases, physicians were consulted by patients and they attributed the symptoms to different arthropods and/or other causes. Symptoms returned when symptomatic treatments were stopped; in the remaining outbreaks (6/20) no medical advice was sought. Results: All the parasites were identified as D. gallinae according to Baker’s (Baker A.S.,1999) morphological keys. Abandoned bird nests (19/20)/(pigeon/sparrow) close to edifices and pet-canaries (1/20) were the PRM source. Showering/washing of patients/their clothes, removal of the mite source coupled with intensive vacuum cleaning and disinfestation (pyrethroids) of the infested quarters, led to complete and stable regression of the dermatitis.

Pigeon nesting sites in four of the 20observed cases (in Cafiero et al. 2007 Infestazione Discussion: The PRMs can be the explanation of cases of da Dermanyssus gallinae nell‟uomo. Obiettivi eDocumenti Veterinari, 6, pp. 41-45., dermatitis of obscure origin in city dwellers due to the expansion of the mite source (i.e. pigeons) in nowadays cities (Haag- Wackernagel 2005). For the firs time, pet canaries are reported here as source of human infestations, such as previously recorded for pet gerbils (Lucky et al, 2001). The meaning of these mites in public health also stems from their role as potential allergens and reservoirs/vectors of zoonotic pathogens (Valiente–Moro et al., 2009); recently, Bartonella quintana and both Lyme Disease and Q. Fever agent have been detected in Dermanyssus ssp and D. gallinae Case reported in Cafiero MA et al. 2009, IJD 48: 1119-21: dermatitis on legs; blood spot caused by D. gallinae crushed against pillow case collected from urban outbreaks of human dermatitis (Melter et al., 2012; Raele et al., 2018). For this reason, the potential of PRM in the transmission of diseases need to be seriously investigated. Our experience suggests greater attention to this topic and the adoption of the One-Health approach with a closer collaboration between physicians/dermatologists/entomologists and veterinarians.

REFERENCES (in order of appearance) Baker A.S. (1999). Mites and ticks of domestic . An identification guide and information source. The Natural History Museum, London, The Stationery Office. Haag-Wackernagel D. (2005). Parasites from feral pigeons as a health hazard for humans. Ann Appl Biol, 147: 203-210. Lucky AW, et al, (2001) Avian mite bites acquired from a new source-pet gerbils: report of 2 cases and review of the literature. Arch Dermatol 137: 167-170 Valiente Moro C. Et Dermatitis by D. gallinae (Acari, Mesostigmata) al, 2009 The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae: A potential vector of pathogenic agents. Exp Appl In Cafiero MA et al. 2017, Outbreaks of Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari, Acarol 48: 93-104. Melter O, et al,2012 Bartonella quintanatrasmission from mite to family with high D. gallinae, ventral view D. gallinae,: egg, engorged female socio heconomic status. Emerg InfectDis 18: 163.; Raele D. et al., 2018 Firts report of Coxielle Mesostigmata) Related Dermatitis in Humans in Public and Private Residences, in buccal apparatus (insert). (brownish), nynphal stage, larval stage burnetti and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu latu in d.gallinae related to urban dermatitis in Italy, New Italy J.Clin.CaseRep 7: 1035. doi:10.4172/2165-7920.10001035 In Cafiero MA et al. 2017, J Clin Case Rep (original., Cafiero, and Galante, 2017) microbes and new infections 2018; 23: 103-109 7: 1035. doi:10.4172/2165-7920.10001035