Magnesium carbonate for physical control of poultry red mites

Abstract

Poultry red mite (PRM) (Dermanyssus gallinae) infestation is a major challenge in poultry farming. The development of alternative physical control methods using inorganic materials offers a promising strategy for mitigating the adverse effects of pesticides. This study aimed to develop a new application of carbonate-based minerals for the physical control of magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃). MgCO₃ was synthesized through a mineralized precipitation process and fully characterized using SEM, EDS, FT-IR, XRD, BET, TGA, zeta potential, and PSA analyses. Direct contact bioassays demonstrated that MgCO₃ (33 g l^-1) induced over 95 % mortality in poultry red mites by day 6 of the experiment, with an LT₅₀ (the time at which 50 % mortality was achieved) of 3.1 days. This study is the first to report the potential application of synthetic MgCO₃ for effective in vitro control of PRM. These findings suggest a novel and sustainable treatment approach that minimizes the risk of inhalation toxicity.