ABSTRACT
Approximately 250 species of mites are parasitic on humans and domestic animals (Mullen and O’Connor, 2002). These mites can be minor pests, causing temporary skin irritations from their bites, or they may cause persistent dermatitis because they invade the skin or hair follicles. Some may induce allergic responses; transmit pathogens; transmit tapeworms; invade the respiratory passages, ears, and internal organs; or cause delusory acariasis (when individuals believe they are being attacked by mites but, in fact, they are not). This chapter brie©y discusses parasitic mites in the Gamasida, Actinedida, and Acaridida that are pests of poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, companion animals, and humans. For additional discussions of mites and ticks of veterinary importance, see Baker et al. (1956), Evans et al. (1961), Williams et al. (1985), Baker (1999), Mullen and O’Connor (2002), Eldridge and Edman (2004), and Williams (2009).
