Bed bugs: Re-emerging threat to chickens and workers in the poultry industry

The prevalence of bed bug (Cimex lectularius) infestations in poultry farms has risen sharply in the last decade. The goals of this study were (1) to understand the extent of bed bug infestations in poultry houses, their severity, and impact on health, production and workers; and (2) to explore innovative systemic approaches for bed bug control. We conducted an anonymous online survey of veterinarians and producers in broiler, broiler-breeder, turkey and commercial egg production. Both producers and veterinarians indicated substantial increases in the frequency and severity of bed bug infestations in poultry farms in the past 5 years; notably, only a small percentage of farms were able to eliminate the infestations. Although bed bugs are not as common as other major pests, they are difficult to control and group with poultry mites in importance. Notably, growers attribute dermal allergies and chicken weight loss to bed bugs, and both growers and veterinarians rank bed bugs as having strong adverse effects on bird welfare and worker morale. A holistic approach to control these bugs is needed as they can move between the poultry houses and the workers’ homes. Veterinary drugs are commonly used to control endo- and ectoparasites in animals. We evaluated the effects of two common veterinary drugs on bed bugs by treating the host with systemic antiparasitic drugs. Our findings suggest that systemic ectoparasitic drugs – particularly isoxazolines – have great potential for practical use to control bed bug infestations in poultry farms.