A gallery of the key characters to ease identification of Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Gamasida: Dermanyssidae) and allow differentiation from Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Acari: Gamasida: Macronyssidae) (Parasites & Vectors)

Background: Dermanyssus gallinae (poultry red mite) is a major threat for the poultry industry and is ofsignificant interest for public health. Identification of D. gallinae can be difficult forscientists not familiar with mite morphology and terminology especially when trying to useidentification keys. Moreover, this species may easily be confused with anotherdermanyssoid mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (northern fowl mite), which often shares thesame hosts and environment. Methods: Specimens of D. gallinae were collected at poultry farms in the Puglia and performed forlight and scanning electron microscopy observations, identification and micrographs.Moreover specimens of O. sylviarum were collected separately macerated and mounted onslides for light microscopy observations, identification and pictures. Results: The micrographs used in this study, based on LM and SEM observations, highlight thefollowing important identifying characters of D. gallinae: the prominent shoulders of thedorsal shield and the jagged edges of the shield reticulations, the position of setae j1, s1 andthe epigynal pores, and the presence on tibia IV pl of one seta. Additional micrographshighlighting the shape of the dorsal (abruptly narrowed posteriorly) and epigynal (narrowlyrounded posteriorly) shields and the chelicera (elongate, with distinct digits) of O. sylviarumenable its differentiation from D.gallinae. Conclusion: The photographic support provided here (both LM and SEM pictures) can be considered apractical tool for scientists who are not well acquainted with the morphology of D.gallinae,and who are involved with classical and molecular systematics, veterinary and human healthaspects of poultry red mites.