Scaly foot

Scaly foot, otherwise known as knemidocoptiasis, is caused by burrowing mites in the genus Knemidokoptes. The condition can be compared with sarcoptic mange in mammals, but does not seem to cause the same level of itching. The birds chiefly affected are galliformes (chickens and turkeys), passerines (finches, canaries, sparrows, robins, wrens), and psittacine birds (parrots, macaws, parakeets, budgerigars). The condition sometimes additionally affects piciformes (woodpeckers, toucans) and anseriformes (ducks, geese, swans), raptors and other birds. The two species of mite most often implicated are K. jamaicensis and K. intermedius. Other related species of mite affect feather follicles and cause depluming. The mites are mostly transmitted by prolonged direct contact, particularly from parent bird to unfledged nestling.[1]

Scaly foot causes lesions of the skin with dermatitis and thickening of the skin. Commonly known as scaly face, scaly legs, or tassel foot, knemidocoptiasis affects primarily the face and legs of birds around the world worldwide and can be fatal.[2]

Knemidocoptic mange [neʺmĭ-do-kopʹtik mānj]

From the Latin manducare (to itch), mange is a skin disease caused by mites in domestic and wild animals. Knemidocoptic, from the Greek knemid (greave, a piece of armor that protects the leg) and koptein (to cut), refers to the morphology and pathogenesis of mites of the genus Knemidokoptes, which are burrowing mites of birds.[2]

This article incorporates public domain text from the CDC as cited

• Scaly leg