Significant role of symbiotic bacteria in the blood digestion and reproduction of Dermanyssus gallinae mites.

Abstract

Endosymbiotic bacteria significantly impact the fitness of their arthropod hosts. Dermanyssus gallinae, the poultry red mite, is a blood-feeding ectoparasite that exclusively feeds on avian blood. While there is a relatively comprehensive understanding of its microbial community structures across developmental stages based on 16S rRNA sequencing， the functional integration of these microbes within the host's physiology remains elusive. This study aims to elucidate the role of symbiotic bacteria in D. gallinae biology. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed a prominent midgut-confinement bacterial microbiota with considerable diversity, out of which Kocuria and Bartonella A acted as the predominant bacterial genera inhabiting D. gallinae. The relative abundance of Bartonella A increased rapidly after blood-sucking, suggesting its adaptation to a blood-based diet and its pivotal role in post-engorgement activities. Some of the isolated bacterial strains from D. gallinae display hemolytic activity on blood agar, potentially aiding blood digestion. To corroborate this in vivo, antibiotic-mediated clearance was exploited to generate dysbiosed cohorts of D. gallinae mites, lacking some of the key bacterial species. Phenotypic assessments revealed that dysbiosed mites experienced delayed blood digestion and diminished reproductive capacity. Whole-genome sequencing identified Bartonella A as a new species within the genus Bartonella, exhibiting characteristics of an obligate symbiont. These findings underscore the significance of microbiota in poultry red mites and suggest microbiota-targeted strategies for controlling mite populations in poultry farms.