Developmental morphology of Knemidokoptes pilae on an infested red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae)

Abstract

A captive 4-year-old female red-crowned parakeet (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae) presented with anorexia, diminished activity and thick, beige, crusted lesions over the cere, legs, wings and cloaca. Deep skin scrapings from various lesions identified Knemidokoptes pilae as the causative agent. For treatment, the crusts were debrided, and the lesions were topically treated with ivermectin, chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine. The parakeet died the day after treatment. Previous studies examining K. pilae have focused primarily on the morphologic characteristics of adult female mites. This study presents a more comprehensive morphologic analysis, with examination of K. pilae at different stages of development (eggs, larvae and adult males and females).