Bird Nematodes Flashcards
Superfamily Strongylidea
Syngamus trachea
Syngamus trachea
Domestic fowl and game birds
Found in trachea and adults are permanently in copula
Syngamus trachea transmission
Ingestion of L3 in the egg
Ingestion of hatched L3
Ingestion of paratenic host (earthworm) containing L3
L3 penetrates SI and migrates in blood to lungs where it develops as an adult
Syngamus trachea pathogenesis
Migration of many larvae causes acute pneumonia and death
Adults cause haemorrhagic tracheitis (bloody inflammation of trachea)
Partial airway occlusion- gapes
Clinical signs are most severe in young birds, appear depressed, dyspneoic, gasps, shaking head, patient cough
Syngamus trachea diagnosis
Barrel shaped egg with bipolar operculum
PM and find worms
Clinical signs
Syngamus trachea epidemiology
Disease most common in young birds/adults are carriers, but turkeys of all ages are susceptible
Most frequent in outdoor pens
Eggs very resistant
Infection can arise from wild birds
Superfamily Ascariodiae
Ascaridia galli
Heterakis gallinarum
Ascaridia galli
Typical ascarid in SI of chicken and turkey
Large and white
Has smooth oval shell, and larval stage in egg is infective
Non migratory
Not very pathogenic
Ascaridia galli epidemiology
Mostly a problem in young birds, older tend to be resistant (can be carriers)
Deep litter housing or out door runs (esp organic) facilitate survival of eggs
Ascaridia galli diagnosis
Hard to distinguish from Heterakis gallinarium, but the egg is thick shelled and very resistant
Necropsy for adults
Heterakis gallinarum
Ascariid but in large intestine
Small white worm found in domestic and wild birds
Egg similar to Ascaridia galli
Non migratory and not pathogenic
Although not pathogenic, id toes carry Histomonas melearidis which causes blackhead in turkeys in its egg
Superfamily Trichuroidea
Capillaria sp
Capillaria
Several different species (some in crop, esoph, or SI)
Anterior end buries in mucosa
May cause diptheritic inflammation, for sp in SI can cause diarrhea
Mortality can be high
Reduced weight gain/egg laying
Cappilaria diagnosis
Young birds are most susceptible and older can be carriers
Non specific clinical signs can occur before eggs are in feces
At necropsy examine for worms
Eggs in feces- parallel sides with bipolar plugs
Nematodes in wild birds
In UK grouse have boom and bust years bc driven by cyclic flucuations of Trichostrongylus tenuis which can reduce survival and breeding
Control using medicated grit
Control of bird nematodes
Anthelmintics to treat infection (Flubendazole)
Hygiene
Clean litter between batches
