Ornithonyssus bacoti Infestation

Omithonyssus bacoti, or tropical rat mite, is a blood­sucking mesostigmate mite that infests wild rats, as well as other species. It is nonselective in its host range. It inhabits its host only to feed and then hides in nearby niches. It causes intense pruritis, and its presence in a rodent population is often first manifest on human handlers. Its complete life cycle can occur within 2 weeks, allowing massive infestation to occur within a short period of time. Because of its nonselective nature, Ornithonyssus has been found in laboratory mouse colonies.