Avian GI parasites

state 4 nematode species that infect avian GIT

1. Ascaridia galli

2. Heterakis gallinarum

3. Trichostrongylus tenuis

4. Capillaria species

state 3 cestode species that affect avian GIT

• Amoebotaenia sphenoides

• choanotaenia infundibulum

• davainea proglottina

State the life cycle of Ascaridia galli

• eggs laid in intestines, excreted in faeces → eggs embryonate → picked up by another bird → match in intestine + develop into mature worm

describe the life cycle of Ascaridia galli

• direct

• simple

• non-migratory

what may act as a paratenic host for Ascaridia galli?

• earth worm

what are clinical signs of Ascaridia galli?

• poor growth

• diarrhoea

• body weight loss

how do you treat Ascaridia galli?

• flubendazole

• piperazine

outline the life cycle of Heterakis gallinarum

• eggs in intestines → faeces → ingested by another chicken → larvae hatch in upper intestine → move to caecum

• could also be via paratenic earth worm

describe the transmission of Heterakis gallinarum

• via ingestion of transported hosts

• contaminated water, food, bedding or soil

what disease does Heterakis gallinarum cause?

• blackhead disease

what is blackhead disease

• a protozoan parasite - Histomonas meleagridis

• it affects the caecum and liver

how is blackhead disease spread?

• by the caecal worm - Heterakis gallinarum

  • the worm contains the trophozoites of Histomonas meleagridis which are then ingested by the chicken

what species of bird is blackhead disease particularly relevant for?

• turkeys

how should we manage turkeys and chickens to prevent spread of H.meleagridis

• don’t raise them together

• don’t raise turkeys in an area that previously had chickens

how long can H.meleagridis survive in its environment

• 2 years

Outline the lifecycle of Trichostrongylidae tenius

1. egg shed in faeces

2. hatch into L1 → L2

3. L3 crawl to top of moist heather

4. bird ingests parasite

5. adult worm feeds on intestinal lining

what is the PPP of Trichostrongylidae tenius?

• 10 days

what do capillaridae worms look like?

• filamentous 1-5cm

outline the life cycle of Capillaria spp.

1. eggs in faeces

2. chicken ingsts egg from soil/faeces/litter

3. egg hatches + becomes larvae

4. adult worms infect different locations depending on species

describe the shape of capillaria species eggs

• barrel-shaped

• transparent egg on each pole

name the 6 capillaria species in the acronym: ACCOBA

1. annuata

2. contorta

3. caudinflata

4. obsignata

5. bursata

6. anatis

For the following species of capillaria, state their location:

1. annuata

2. contorta

3. caudinflata

4. obsignata

5. bursata

6. anatis

1. oesophagus + crop

2. oesophagus, crop + mouth

3. SI

4. SI

5. SI

6. SI, caecum, cloaca

for the following capillaria species, state if they have an additional host

1. annuata

2. contorta

3. caudinflata

4. obsignata

5. bursata

6. anatis

1. earthworm

2. no

3. earthworm

4. no

5. earthworm

6. no

for the following dilepidae, state where they form their cysticercoids:

1. Amoebotaenia sphenoides

2. Choanotaenia infundibulum

1. in the earthworm

2. in house fly/beetle

what species are infected by Davainea proglottina?

• fowl and pigeons

what pathology does Davainea proglottina cause?

• blood loss and enteritis in the duodenum

what is the intermediate host for Davainea proglottina/

• slugs + snails