Respiratory Parasites & Air Sac Mites in Birds: A Vet’s 2025 Guide 🦜🩺

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc – avian veterinarian and founder of Ask A Vet 🩺🐥

Respiratory parasites—especially air sac mites—can silently damage your bird’s health. This detailed 2025 vet guide covers:

• 🫁 What air sac mites & respiratory parasites are
• 🔍 Common species like Sternostoma tracheacolum and Cytodites nudus
• ⚠️ Signs & symptoms to watch for
• 🧪 Diagnosis methods
• 💊 Treatment protocols including ivermectin/moxidectin
• 🧹 Environmental hygiene & prevention
• 📱 When to contact your vet

An essential reference for bird owners, breeders, and vets seeking to protect feathered friends from respiratory parasites.

1. 🦠 What Are Respiratory Parasites & Air Sac Mites?

These tiny mites invade the respiratory system—particularly the air sacs, lungs, trachea, and syrinx. Infected birds often include finches, canaries, pigeons, poultry, and even exotic parrots :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

Key species:

• Sternostoma tracheacolum: Found in finches and canaries; lives inside the respiratory tract :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Cytodites nudus: Common in poultry like chickens and turkeys :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

2. 🧩 Signs & Symptoms

Respiratory mites cause a range of clinical signs, from mild to severe:

• Labored or open-mouth breathing, wheezing, sneezing, click sounds, tail-bobbing :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Coughing, changes in vocalization :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
• Lethargy, weight loss, poor appetite, unkempt feathers :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
• Excessive salivation or swallowing motions :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
• In heavy infestations: pneumonia, coelomitis, airway obstruction :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Signs often worsen under stress, excitement, or exercise :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.

3. 🧪 Diagnosing Respiratory Mites

• Clinical exam: auscultation may reveal wheezes or crackles.
• Transillumination: shining a bright light through wet neck feathers can reveal mites crawling in the trachea :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Endoscopy or radiography: may assist in chronic or severe cases.
• Post-mortem/histology: confirms mite involvement in air sacs/lungs :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.

4. 💊 Treatment Protocols

Treatment must be prompt to prevent complications:

4.1 Ivermectin & Moxidectin

• Ivermectin: 0.2–0.4 mg/kg PO or IM, repeat after 2 weeks :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
• Moxidectin: 0.2 mg/kg orally, topically, or subcutaneously; repeat in 2 weeks :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.

Higher infestations may require multi-dose regimes—potentially lasting months :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

4.2 Supportive Care

• Keep birds in a warm, quiet environment :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
• Offer easy-to-eat, high-nutrient foods and fluids.
• Isolate infected individuals and monitor respiratory status closely.

5. 🧹 Environmental Control & Prevention

• Deep-clean and disinfect cages, perches, and toys—replace porous items :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
• Discard wooden nest boxes or bedding; mites hide in crevices :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.
• Use acaricidal sprays, dusts, or powders (e.g., carbaryl 5%) in nesting areas :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.

For flocks, clean entire aviaries; birds in outdoor settings need protection from wild-bird parasite reservoirs :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}.

6. 🔁 Long-Term Management & Monitoring

• Repeat ivermectin/moxidectin after 2 weeks; consider monthly treatment in heavy infestations :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}.
• Watch for re-infestation—mites can survive up to 10 months off-host :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.
• Reduce stress—proper nutrition and environmental enrichment boost resistance :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.

7. ⚠️ Complications & Co-Infections

• Heavy infestations may lead to airsacculitis: swelling, discharge, further respiratory compromise :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.
• Diseases like bacterial pneumonia or fungal lung infections may follow :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}.

Severe cases may require antibiotics or antifungals under veterinary direction.

8. 🏥 When to Contact Your Vet

Any signs of respiratory distress deserve immediate veterinary attention—especially labored breathing, tail-bobbing, changes in calls/vocalization, or rough coat :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}.

Your avian vet can perform diagnostics, prescribe proper ivermectin dosing, and guide environmental cleanup.

9. 🧠 Summary Table

10. 🧡 Final Takeaways

• Air sac mites silently infect many bird species—detect early by listening for odd respiratory noises.
• Diagnosis may require transillumination, endoscopy, or necropsy.
• Effective treatment includes ivermectin/moxidectin with follow-up dosing.
• Environmental cleaning and replacing porous items are vital to prevent recurrence.
• Ongoing care, stress reduction, and hygiene help keep infestations at bay.
• Contact your avian vet via the Ask A Vet app for personalized instructions, dosing guidance, and case-by-case support.

Don't hesitate—if you suspect respiratory parasites in your bird, consult your vet promptly. For guidance, dosing, or emergency support, use the Ask A Vet app or visit AskAVet.com now. 🐾