Field Evaluation of a Korean-Style Integrated Pest Management Program for Poultry Red Mite Control in Commercial Layer Farms

This study evaluated the field applicability and control efficacy of a Korean-style integrated pest management program (K-IPM) for poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) on commercial layer farms using a microscopic 3point 5score monitoring system. Three mite-infested layer farms (A, B, and C) were monitored after depopulation (pre-cleaning and disinfection), immediately after cleaning and disinfection, and then every 4 weeks up to 24 weeks after placement to track changes in contamination scores. At the cleaning and disinfection stage, one of three farm-specific programs was applied: (1) high-pressure water-washing + Bioocyst, (2) Bioocyst + Amorphous synthetic silica, or (3) Bioocyst + Amorphous synthetic silica + Blood-sucking repellent. Farm A showed scores ranging from 1.00 to 2.00 throughout the study, with no significant differences among time points (P>0.05), and Farm C similarly decreased after cleaning and disinfection and remained mostly at 1.33 without significant differences (P>0.05). In contrast, Farm B exhibited the highest pre-cleaning score (3.67), which was significantly higher than other time points (P<0.001); the score decreased to 2.00 after cleaning and disinfection and remained within 1.33—2.33 during weeks 4—24 post-placement. These findings suggest that a monitoring-centered K-IPM approach linking cleaning and disinfection programs with post-placement complementary management may be effective for maintaining poultry red mite contamination at a low level over the long term on commercial layer farms.