Heterakis spp. (1)

Question 1

What are the final hosts?

Answer 1

Domestic and Wild Fowl

H. gallinarum - chickens and turkeys

Question 2

What are the paratenic hosts?

Answer 2

Earthworms

Flies

Question 3

Describe adults

Answer 3

In large intestine

Females: 1-1.5 cm

Males: 1 cm

Question 4

Describe eggs

Answer 4

65-80x35-46 micro m

Oval

Thick shelled

Slightly smaller than Ascaridia

Have parallel sides

Eggs last a long time in environment

Egg with L2 ingested - infective

Question 5

Describe life cycle

Answer 5

Direct

Egg with a morula passes in feces

Reaches infective stage in 10-21 days

Egg with L2 ingested is ingested and hatches in small intestine

Larvae migrate from small intestine to cecum

Common in outdoor/free-range systems

Question 6

What is the site of infection?

Answer 6

Cecum

Question 7

Describe the Pathogenesis

Answer 7

H. gallinarum - Chickens/Turkeys
- Most common nematode
- Non-pathogenic, not an issue for chickens, but an issue for
Turkeys because it leaves behind Histamonas
- Non-pathogenic but transmits Histamonas meleagridis
- H. meleagridis is the cause of “blackhead” in Turkeys

Question 8

How do you diagnose?

Answer 8

Fecal flotation

Necropsy

Question 9

What is the common name?

Answer 9

Poultry cecal worm