Exam 2: Clinical Avian Parasitology

how is clinical assessment of avian parasites defined

• history

• PE

• dx testing

• direct fecal exam

• fecal flotation

• parasite PCR

• adavanced molecular testing

• specific treatment

what are the three major classes of mites

• Dermanyssus

• Ornithonyssus

• Knemidokoptes

how is Dermanyssus gallinae defined

• red mites

• presents as weakness, anemia, excess preening

• night feeders

• tx= environmental cleaning, carbaryl pwder, frontline

how is Ornithonyssus sylviarum defined

• fowl mite

• remains on the bird

• tx dust with pyrethrins, carbaryl

how are knemidokoptes spp defined

• scaly leg and face mite

• lesions on face, beak, vent and legs

• tassel foot, break overgrowth

• common in canaries, budgerigars

• dx with skin scraping

• tx with SQ ivermectin

how are lice described in birds

• uncommon

• nits (eggs attached to feathers)

• dust, spray, pyrethrin or carbaryl

how are hippoboscid flies described

• keds

• flat

• raptors and pigeons

• anemia and death

• keep wild birds away from aviary

what is the major trematode in birds

• Clinostomum marginatum, aka yellow grub

how

how is Clnostomum marginatum describe in birds

• seen in fish, frogs and birds

• twi intermediate, one definitive host

• eggs hatch, miracidium invades the foot of a snail

• cercaria leaves the snail, encysting in the muscle of fish and frogs and then develops into the metacercaria

• adult fund in the mouth and esophagus of herons and other fish eating birds

• treated with removal and praziquantel

what are the major intestinal parasites in birds

• giardia

• helminths = capillaria, ascarids, spirurids, cestodes

how is giardia described in birds

• budgies, cockatiels, toucan

• cysts and adults in feces

• wasting, chronic mucoid diarrhea, regurgitation, anorexia, feather picking

• treat with metronidazole

how is trichomonosis described in birds

• T. gallinae and T. stableri

• sinuses, mouth, esphagous, liver, other

• all birds affected but primarily doves and pigeons

• birds may become infected by eating other birds

• initially appear as small yellowish foci to coalescing lesions in mouth

• contaminated water

• infected birds lose weight and become listless

how is trichomonosis diagnosed in birds

• histological exam

• PCR

• confirmation by microscopic examination of wet mount

• culture of organisms in prepared culture media

how is trichomonosis treated

• carnidazole

• metroiazole

what is Capillaria

• threadworms

• direct or indirect (earthworm)

• emaciation and diarrhea in peafowl

• fecal float shows bipolar plug egg

• treat with fenbendazole

how are cestodes described in birds

• indirect life cycle

• wasting

• fecal proglottids

• egg baskets or eggs in feces

• Praiquatnel

how are ascarids described in birds

• round worms

• direct life cycle

• nonspecific clinical signs

• impaction, regurgitation, wasting weakness

• tx with fenbedazole

what are the major respiratory tract parasites

• tracheal mites

• gapeworm

how are gapeworms described in birds

• Sygamous trachea

• couging dyspnea sneezing

• tx with fenbendazole oral, ivermectin inj

• Y shape- small male, large female

what is Cyathostoma bronchialis

• respiratory parasite similar to gapeworm

• chickens, water fowl, raties, and more

• direct ingestion of 3rd stage larvae or indirect via earthworms

• larynx, trachea, bronchi, air sacs

• presenting signs

• diagnose with eggs in feces/oral mucous, direct observation

• treatment similar to gapeworm

how are tracheal mites described in birds

• sternastoma tracheacolum

• black spots in trachea and bronchi

• air sacs at base of heart

• treat with Ivermextin 200ug/kg, 5% sevin dust

what blood parasite is A

Plasmodium, avian malaria

what blood parasite is B

hemoproteus

what blood parasite is C

leukocytozoon

how is plasmodium described in birds

• RBC, extracellular

• pathogenic in canaries, gryfalcons, chickens, ducks, pigens

• hemolytc anemia, hemoglobinuria, leukocytosis, lymphocytosis

how is Haemoproteus or Parahaemoproteus described in birds

• RBC

• psittacine, BOP, pigeons, sea birds

• present as anemia

• nonpathogenic

• treat with antimalarials but not recommended

• vactors are hippoboscid flies (H) and Culicoids spp (P)

how is Leukocytozoon described in birds

• RBC and WBC

• ducks, geese, turkeys

• hemolytic anemia

• hemoglobinuria

• treat with antimalarials?