Avian mite dermatitis: Diagnostic challenges and unmet needs.

The avian mite Dermanyssus gallinae (poultry red mite, PRM) is of major economic and veterinary importance for the poultry and egg industry worldwide. The accumulating reports on the opportunistic nonavian feeding of D. gallinae raise concerns on PRM host expansion. However, the consequent threats to human health remain largely unclear. PRM infestation in humans is usually manifested as a local or generalized noncharacteristic skin reaction referred to as gamasoidosis. This report presents the current state of the art and the new developments on PRM-associated dermatitis, sharing neither the authors' personal experience nor focusing on differential diagnosis. Specifically, it reflects the outcome of the critical assessment of the available literature by European medical and veterinary experts in the field under the "One Health" approach.

Crop plants versus energy plants--on the international food crisis.

The recent price explosion of important agricultural commodities has lead to an international food crisis. The price rise is attributed to fundamental factors, such as the rising demand for dairy and meat products in China and the development of the bioenergy branch as well as on short-term factors such as the behaviour of speculators. Mobilising the worldwide supply can held to overcome the demand driven shortage of food this can be achieved through a proper design of the agricultural policy both in developed and developing countries.