Abstract
BACKGROUND: Poultry red mites, or Dermanyssus gallinae, pose a threat to the welfare and productivity of laying hens. Moreover, the increasing resistance of these mites to conventional miticides highlights the urgent need for alternative treatment options. There are also documented cases of poultry red mite infestations in humans. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fluralaner against Dermanyssus gallinae infestation in hens. METHODS: Fluralaner was selected as a novel treatment for poultry red mite due to its effectiveness and safety profile. The presence of live mites in the drinking water tank served as the indicator of infestation. Live mites were counted on nine occasions throughout the study. Fluralaner was administered at three doses of 0.5 mg/kg in drinking water with a seven-day interval between each dose. The efficacy of fluralaner was assessed, with an efficacy percentage exceeding 90% considered indicative of antiparasitic efficacy. RESULTS: The overall efficacy of Fluralaner in the current study exceeded 90% by day 5 and reached 100% by day 17. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that fluralaner is an effective alternative treatment, achieving efficacy rates exceeding 90% against poultry red mite infestation in laying hens.