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Poultry red mites study receives funding boost
The project has the potential to reduce the number of experimental hens used in poultry red mite colony maintenance.
Novel method could see number of donor hens reduce by 90 per cent.

Researchers at the Moredun Research Institute have been awarded just shy of half a million pounds to develop a novel way of studying poultry red mites.

Poultry red mites are a major economic and animal welfare issue for the international egg industry, and researchers across the globe are working to develop new methods of control. To supply mites for any research programme, however, donor hens must be infested with the parasite to provide sufficient numbers of mites for studies.

Moredun will use the £483,000 grant to establish a laboratory colony of red mites and develop a new feeding method which removes the need to use infested hens. The money was awarded by the National Centre Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

Study co-author, Dr Francesca Nunn, said: “This is an exciting project that not only has the potential to seriously reduce the numbers of experimental hens used in poultry red mite colony maintenance, but also increase our understanding of the feeding behaviour and population dynamics that will be greatly useful in future control strategies against this important parasite.”

Preliminary studies by Moredun found that poultry red mites feed on goose blood through a disposable synthetic skin-like membrane. Researchers say that live geese are particularly suited to be blood donors for this task because they can supply around 30 times more blood than hens in a single donation.

Using this new method, Moredun believes that the number of hens used for the maintenance of poultry red mites could be reduced by as much as 90 per cent per year. Furthermore, by taking away the need for hens to be continuously infested with the parasites, welfare standards will increase.

Dr Alasdair Nisbet, head of vaccine and diagnostic development and principal investigator of the study says: “I’m delighted to be able to continue our work on reducing the numbers of hens used for poultry red mite research and refining our approaches in this area in partnership with the NC3Rs. We look forward to another three years of a high level of impact in these areas.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.