The Poultry Red Mite (PRM) is one of the most damaging ectoparasites affecting the egg-laying industry. These tiny mites feed on the blood of hens, causing irritation, stress, feather pecking and anaemia, and in severe cases can even lead to mortality. Infestations reduce egg numbers and quality and undermine bird welfare, resulting in huge economic losses for producers across Europe and the UK.
Current control relies largely on chemical acaricides, but increasing reports of resistance mean these some products are becoming less dependable. With few alternative treatments available, there is a clear need for new, sustainable options. This challenge is the focus of my PhD project at Moredun Research Institute (MRI), funded by the British Egg Marketing Board Educational Trust (BEMB). The project aims to identify new biological and chemical tools to help farmers manage PRM more effectively.
A key part of this research uses a precise gene-silencing technology called RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi allows researchers to temporarily “switch off” specific genes to understand how important they are to mite survival. After initial optimisation work, a targeted screen will examine several PRM genes that are known to be essential in other pests and parasites. Identifying which of these genes are critical in PRM could highlight promising new targets for future vaccines or treatments.
We are currently using RNAi to identify targets in the mite’s blood digestion system. PRM depend entirely on blood meals, so blocking this process could offer a powerful and highly specific control option. Importantly, such a method could target blood-feeding parasites without harming beneficial insects like pollinators. A chemical inhibitor that interferes with an early step in protein digestion has already shown encouraging results in initial feeding trials. This same pathway is now being explored using RNAi to assess whether these key digestive enzymes could serve as reliable long-term targets.
Beyond the laboratory, the project has already gained recognition. A short video explaining the research recently won the Scotia Agricultural Society Postgraduate Student Prize, highlighting its significance and growing public interest in this work.
A health adult female poultry red mite viewed under flourescent microscopy
For further information please contact: Naomi Defty naomi.defty@moredun.ac.uk and Dan Price Dan.Price@moredun.ac.uk
