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On this page, we hope to provide information about one type of mite associated with the roof rats in our area. This will corroborate our direct residential experiences with information from and links to other web sites and resources.
Here, photos taken of sample mites from our home. We have found many such mites on our dogs, the rats captured in our attic, and on our bodies. NOTE: These mites are extremely small, about the size of a period in the text on this page. The yellowish-brown ones are apparently pre-fed, while the red ones are engorged on blood.
After extensive research following an apparently incorrect identification of our mites by our UofA Agricultural Extension entomologists, and prior to capture of two mite-bearing roof rats on our property of residence, we had concluded that the mites infesting our home are, in order of likelihood: Tropical Rat Mites, Cheyletiella, Chicken Mites [See web site resources links, this page].
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Our County Vector Control web site lists mites as associated with roof rats. Yet, they have endeavored to assure us by telephone that while these rats may theoretically carry mites, there have been no officially documented cases of that in this area.
We have provided a sample rat captured in the attic of our home - a rat infested with mites - to Maricopa County Vector Control, and we are currently trying to confirm the agency's preliminary report to us after forensic inspection of same that the mites are "probably Tropical Rat Mites" (Ornithonyssus bacoti). [See updates from text, below...]
Our local Agricultural Extension Office entomologists have yet to provide any correct identification of our mites.
These mites, whatever they are, have infested our home! They routinely bite me, our dogs, and sometimes my wife. After drawing their blood meals then falling off, they leave itchy welts that persist for weeks, sometimes leaving scars if scratched.
We are finding eradication extremely challenging, and so far we have received little direct assistance from any regional agency. Maricopa County Vector Control has offered some suggestions, including hiring a professional pest control company.
UPDATE: The bite pictured above seems to have been one of the last. As of 4.25.06, we have had no more bites, nor have we found any more mites on our dogs. Perhaps with the onset of warm weather, they have gone. We can only hope they don't return!
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4.10.06 (based on phone conversation):
I spoke with Craig Levy of the AZ Dept. of Health Services. He reports the following: He was not able to get to the sample rat until the following day (after it was brought into Vector Control office from our home), and so there were no mites found via his standard inspection procedures at the time of inspection. I asked, What about Charles Jackson's report that the mites are "probably Tropical Rat Mites"? Levy explained that he had seen the e-mail pictures I had sent, and that he was responding to the photos, only, and that they appeared to be Tropical Rat mites. I explained that I had seen the same mites on the rats I have captured and that mites continue to bite us and at least one of our dogs. He said they would like to see a sample, delivered in 70% isopropyl aclcohol, either by mail in a leak-proof package, or directly to: AZ Dept of Health Services:
In review: Remove host (rats - probably humans will not be an adequate long-term host), and keep them out. Mitigate mites on dog(s) and premises with chemicals (anything that address ticks, spiders, arachnids)... Tropical Rat mites usually a "self-limiting problem" and have not been associated with any disease.
4.10.06 (e-mail reply): After speaking with Mr. Craig Levy of Arizona Department of Health Services, the following was determined: The rat specimen obtained from your residence was mite free. The photos provided of the actual organism in question were not of sufficient quality for identification. While you have an issue with some sort of infestation we can not make a case at this time of a causal relationship of mites to rats. If you obtain a specimen(s) and can preserve it in alcohol I will have one of my Inspectors come by and deliver it to Mr. Levy's lab for identification. In the matter of treatment it is suggested that a professional pest control company be contacted and used to clear the infestation. If I can be of any further service please free to contact me. Brian Ferjak, Vector Control Complaint Supervisor
4.10.06 (e-mail reply): Pictures (out of focus unfortunately) were the only thing we had to make an identification from. I sent them to a colleague who is a mite expert and he said either Tropical Rat Mite or Tropical Fowl Mite. With your information about roof rats, I would say it is safe to identify them as Tropical Rat Mites. If you have a sample and would like to send it we would like to get specimens to have on hand both for myself and a colleague at MAC. Put them in rubbing alcohol if you do send some. As to ridding of mites did you get into the ceiling where they probably nested and thoroughly clean that out too. There are some miticides which vector control should be able to recommend to help with your battle. Sorry for all these e-mails, but I did last week send the response back to Jo Cook about the identification and why it was iffy. I'm surprised vector control could not give a more positive ID. I hope this helps you a bit more. Regards,
4.09.06 To whom it may concern, We have not yet received a definitive ID for our mites, which are persistent in our household, despite ridding our house of roof rats and despite our best efforts to eradicate the mites. In order to deal with the problem, we need clarified information regarding the type of mite we are dealing with. Our Maricopa County Vector Control - after taking a captured, mite-infested rat from our premises - has only indicated that the mites are "probably tropical rat mites." Please review the message and materials herein, then reply with either a definitive ID, information about where we can take a sample mite for correct identification, or referrals to those who can identify our mites. Arcadia Resident
----- Original Message -----
3.13.06 Hello to all concerned, We need your help! We live in the Phoenix Arcadia neighborhood, and we are infested with both roof rats and mites, and for the past 6 weeks or more, the mites have come into our houses and have been biting our family members and our dogs! As per the message below this one, please review that we had brought in a mite, which the ASU/UofA Agricultural Extension entomology department had identified as a "clover mite, which does not bite people." We would like a review of that recommendation in light of the following information, then please reply with a positive identification of our mites. [Attached are two original photos submitted to the AG team, their three photos of the sample mite we provided, and new photos of some of the many mites we have extracted from our bodies and our dog, plus 3 drawings of mites from Illinois Dept. of Public Health website (link, below).] Background: In the past few days, we have found hoards of mites biting both my wife and myself, as well as our dog, and the same is true for my parents, who live a few blocks away. We have been receiving bites for over 6 weeks. Both of our houses have roof rats. Our Maricopa County Vector Control website indicates that roof rats "gnaw, eat stored food, and transmit disease by droppings and urine, bites, and the fleas and mites in their fur." [See, http://www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/WATER/VECTOR/rrbiology.asp ] I had caught a live roof rat at our house, and I inspected it to discover that it had mites on its body, apparently of the same type as we have found on our bodies. (The rat has been destroyed and discarded as per the County website's recommendations.) Meanwhile, Senior Maricopa County Vector Control Officer, Daniel Ramirez, on 03.13.06, assured us via telephone that roof rats have not been confirmed by the State of Arizona to carry any type of mites. [ Daniel Ramirez RS, Senior Vector Control Officer: 506-0700/506-0713 ] I spoke with his supervisor, Brian Ferjak, today, and he is planning to send someone out to inspect. More History: On 3.01.06, I saw a dermatologist who viewed our sample mite under a microscope, agreed it is some type of mite, and positively identified the lesions and rash on my body as being resultant from some kind of bite, most likely from the mite sample taken from my body. On 3.11.06, we provided sample mites from our dog's body to our veterinarian, who identified the mite as most likely Cheyletiella. Resources: The Illinois Dept. of Public Health website has drawings of mites, two of which look quite like ours (pls. compare with attached photos), and they indicate that one of those two types of mites affects rodents, esp. mice and rats, and they may also bite humans. [See the section on RODENT and BIRD MITES (Liponyssoides sanguineus, Laelaps echidnina, Ornithonyssus spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Cheyletiella spp.) http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/pcmites.htm ] In Conclusion: We feel we have been given poor information from both our County Vector Control and from the ASU/UofA Agricultural Extension entomologists regarding the likelihood of rat-related mites and, more importantly, apparently incorrect identification of the sample mites from our homes. Meanwhile, we have a continuing infestation that affects my house, my parents' house, and my next door neighbors, all residing in or near the Arcadia area of Phoenix. We feel we deserve proper analysis of our circumstances and await reply with positive identification of the vectors, as well as suggestions for remedies. Arcadia Resident |