The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is one of the most important external parasites in the poultry industry. PRM adheres to birds’ bodies, and its hematophagy causes anemia and itching, and reducing egg production (~20%). Fipronil is a toxic pesticide used to control PRM. Thus, an environmentally friendly alternative control agent is needed. In this study, the effectiveness of various environmentally friendly PRM control measures including an acaricide consisting of synthetic silica, clove extracts, garlic extracts, and a probiotic solution were evaluated, comparing them to a combined treatment using the chemical acaricides. Each agent was tested in vitro using two approaches, in which PRMs were either added to environments containing acaricide, or sprayed in situ. Within 10 hours of inoculation, all the environmentally friendly acaricides except for the probiotic solution killed or rendered immotile significantly more mites than the control, normal saline (p < 0.05). The performance of the environmentally friendly acaricides, except for synthetic silica, was significantly weaker than that of commercial chemical acaricides. (p < 0.05). Further tests to determine the optimal concentration of amorphous synthetic silica agent for complete PRM control found this to be 400 g/L. PRM motility following treatment showed the same pattern: the synthetic silica agent and chemical acaricide killed mites, while application of other environmentally friendly agents resulted in living, but immotile, insects, or those with reduced motility. As a result, these environmentally friendly acaricides, especially the synthetic silica agent, could be used as alternatives to chemical acaricides for PRM control.

Abstract
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
    Sample collection
    Agents
    PRM survival test
    Acaricidal dosage evaluation of synthetic amorphoussilica
    Statistical Analysis
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

• Jinhyun Kim(Department of Public Health and Center for One Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University)
• Jongchul Yu(Neobio Co., Ltd.)
• Dongryeoul Bae(Department of Public Health and Center for One Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University)
• Kun-Ho Seo(Department of Public Health and Center for One Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University) Corresponding Author