Are scaly face mites harmful to humans?

[Reebre]

I am the librarian who has gouldians in my library. My female has scaly face mites. I know that it is from a compromised immune system from the egg binding and not eating a varied diet. I cannot get my birds to eat any verges or egg food. She is the only one affected by the mite. I have ordered s76 online and am waiting for it to arrive. My Principal is new and I do not think that he likes the birds; even though, the kids, staff and parents love them. I even have teachers who stop in just to de stress by watching the birds. My former Principal is the one who gave me permission over the summer to get the birds. Anyway, my new Principal says that mites are harmful to the students and can get in carpets, stuffed animals and even harm our students. I have done research and can only find red mites being harmful to humans. He wants me to take the birds home which on one hand just to end the hassle that the school is giving me sounds like a good idea. On the other hand I bought them for the school with book fair money to be enjoyed by the students and for the students to learn abouta them.
This post is partly for me to vent but also to find out if anyone knows whether or not the scaly face mites are harmful to my students. If they are, of course I will take them home. If not, I will probably bring them home anyway but will argue my case first. Thanks for listening to me.
Melissa

[30 Seconds to Bob]

No this type of mite is not harmful to humans. It is a burrowing mite and is usually transmitted from parent to baby in the nest box during feeding. It is rarely even transferred from one adult bird to another. Same as the mites that cause demodectic mange in dogs is not transferrable to humans. Red mites may be a different story. Bob

[cindy]

I will check with my husband, an Entomolgist. I was discussing something like this with him yesterday. Most of the times the mites the birds have a species specific. I want to check with him to make sure. The mite is a tiny burrowing mite, Cnemidocoptes pilae.

[cindy]

this is an article on them

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index ... 170218.htm

The mites that the birds have are different from the mites that are associated with allergies (dust mites, droppings can cause allergies)

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_dust_mite

[debbie276]

It's such a shame that something fun and educational is taken from the kids
best of luck with them at home

[kenny]

hi
your pupils are safe,even in its nastiest form it is not harmful to humans


ken

[finchmix22]

Since the principal is not educated about finches, I would give him some finch education. Remind him of the process you went through to obtain the permission in the first place, the reasons the students and teachers benefit from the finches, the actual facts of any finch related illness, and the money used was school money, etc. I'd approach the principal with an educational attitude with the explanation and information you already explained here. The only concern he might make, which seems valid to me, would be allergies to birds droppings. I know some people here had to sell their finches because of previously unknown allergies to birds.

[Sally]

Since the principal is not educated about finches, I would give him some finch education. Remind him of the process you went through to obtain the permission in the first place, the reasons the students and teachers benefit from the finches, the actual facts of any finch related illness, and the money used was school money, etc. I'd approach the principal with an educational attitude with the explanation and information you already explained here. The only concern he might make, which seems valid to me, would be allergies to birds droppings. I know some people here had to sell their finches because of previously unknown allergies to birds.

Excellent arguments, Deborah.

[Reebre]

I talked to my Principal and the birds can stay at school. I showed how beneficial the birds are to our students, teaching them responsibility, respect, empathy. I also told him that the birds would be excellent for positive reinforcement to students who habitually make wrong choices. These students can help me feed and care for the birds if they make the right choices. The birds also fit nicely into the curriculum of every grade level.
I am bringing the female finch home though. She is the one who keeps getting sick. I know that it is a compromised immune system from the egg binding, refusal to eat vegetables or egg food, and being the only female in a cage of 6 males.
I have a few questions though. Can I have an aviary of only males? Should I take the nests out? Can I bring the orange cheeked male home to be company for the female Gouldian? He is very snuggly, and she is the only one that lets him snuggle with her. The other finches (all Gouldians) either want nothing to do with him or chase him away.
Hopefully, bringing her home will allow me to get rid of the scaley face mites and to make her healthy once again. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Sally]

That is good news that the principal is letting the birds stay in the library. And I think you are making a wise decision to bring the one hen home. This way, you can concentrate on treating her. A lone hen with six males may sound like a dream to some of us humans , but it is not always such a great situation for a finch. If the little Orange-cheek is her buddy, he would probably be good to keep her company. The male Gouldians will do just fine.

One thing you will want to think about. If one bird has scaley face mites, then all birds would need to be treated, as well as the aviary. The S76 can be given in the water to the birds in the library, you would need to give a fresh mixture each morning for two mornings in a row, then repeat again for the next two weeks. The best way to make them drink the medicated water is to take out all water in the aviary in the evening, then when you put in the medicated water in the morning, they will all be thirsty. Just watch to see that all of them go for a drink.

For the aviary, I like to use Avian Insect Liquidator. You can mix it up in a pump sprayer, remove food and water dishes in the aviary, and mist all surfaces of the aviary. You do not have to remove the birds, this will not hurt them at all even if they get sprayed. In fact, AIL is often sprayed directly on birds for mites.

[debbie276]

All male gouldians will get along fine together. I would let the orange cheek be with her for company. I'm sure it will be less stressful for him if he's always being chased by the goulds.
So glad things worked out with the principal.

[Reebre]

The best way to make them drink the medicated water is to take out all water in the aviary in the evening, then when you put in the medicated water in the morning, they will all be thirsty.

I am not sure if I am using the "Text qoute" correctly. Forgive me if I am not. The school is locked up at 6 pm and not reopened til 6 am. Will the birds be okay if I take their water for 12 hours? I also read on the forum to take their food overnight to get them to eat veges the 1st thing the next morning. Is 12 hours too long without food?

[Sally]

I think 12 hours would be fine. When I have done S76 with my birds, I have taken away all water probably about 9-10pm, and then gave them the S76 at 8am, so only 1 or 2 hours less. And don't give them any veggies the days you give S76, or any moist food, as you want them to drink the medicated water.

If you were just asking about how to get them to eat their veggies, or any new food, that is one way to do it--take all food away in the evening and give them the new food in the morning. After an hour or two with the new food, you will want to give them their normal food, so they don't go too long without food.