Gamasoidosis caused by Dermanyssus gallinae

Abstract

Introduction: Mite parasites can be transmitted from animals to humans and cause prurigo. Observation: We describe a case of mite transmission in a 75-year-old woman referred for pruritus and erythematous maculopapular rash. On clinical examination mites were seen on the patient's skin. The mites were collected and characterized using microscopy. The species was identified as Dermanyssus gallinae, also known as the poultry red mite, an ectoparasite that commonly infests bird nests. The source of the patient's contamination was her henhouse, where mites were found in the wooden beams. Molecular analysis by mitochondrial DNA sequencing was performed on a mite collected from the patient and on a mite collected from the henhouse. This analysis confirmed that both belonged to the D. gallinae s.str species, and that the source of contamination was poultry farming. Conclusion: This case describes transmission to a human of the mite D. gallinae s.str via hens, resulting in prurigo, as confirmed by morphological and molecular analysis.