Low, Matthew
- Department of Conservation Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
From September 2001 to February 2005, observations of an island population of the New Zealand stitchbird (Notiomystis cincta) revealed a progressive feather-losing dermatitis, which developed during the breeding season around the birds' eyes, base of the bill, and ventral neck. The lesions were significantly more likely to develop in males (96%) than females (51%), with males exhibiting a more severe form of the condition at the end of the breeding season. Histology from a dead bird revealed the presence of ovoid burrowing mites within the lesions, and isolation of mites from skin crusts of a live bird were identified as Kneiniclocoptes spp. Although other factors might be involved in the expression of the condition, Knemidocoptes appears to be a likely causative agent in the development of skin lesions in this population
Published in
Journal of Wildlife Diseases
2007, volume: 43, number: 2, pages: 262-268
Publisher: WILDLIFE DISEASE ASSN, INC
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Sciences and Nature Conservation
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-43.2.262
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/17108