Archive Case #130: Avian Scaly Face Mite Infestation

Clinical Clues

1. A budgerigar is presented for slowly progressive crusting of facial skin.
2. The owner reports itchiness and a gradually changing beak shape.
3. Similar crusting and thickening are visible on the legs.
4. Lesions are dry, proliferative, and honeycombed.
5. The disease is caused by burrowing mites in superficial skin.
6. Knemidokoptes scaly face mite infestation causes crusting of the cere, beak, and legs in budgerigars.

Diagnosis

Avian Scaly Face Mite Infestation

This case is most consistent with Avian Scaly Face Mite Infestation because the budgerigar has classic proliferative crusting of the cere, beak, and legs. The most important clues are the species and lesion pattern, which make a simple traumatic beak injury less likely.

Educational Use

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