Studies on the Control of Dermanyssus gallinae via High-Voltage Impulse

Abstract

Dermanyssus gallinae, a parasitic mite that subsists on the avian blood of chickens, poses a considerable threat to the poultry industry. D. gallinae infestation can result in a plethora of detrimental effects for the host birds, including decreased egg production and anemia. Pyrethroid pesticides have been the primary means of combating this issue and have demonstrated high levels of efficacy. However, in recent years, D. gallinae has exhibited resistance to these chemicals, resulting in a marked decrease in their mortality; thus, an integrated control strategy in addition to the chemical use should be required for the sustainable control of this mite. This study confirms that D. gallinae can be effectively controlled through the utilization of high-voltage impulse discharges and that various electrical parameters possess optimal values that are required for mite control. The alterations in the body surface of the mite caused by high-voltage impulses were akin to those caused by heat, but no alteration in the elemental composition of the body surface was observed, suggesting a change in organization caused by currents flowing inside the exoskeleton. Comparatively, the mite control efficacy of high-voltage impulse was found to be substantially superior to that of ultraviolet light or ozone, with up to 95% more mites being killed in as little as 30 seconds.