Trichurid nematodes in ring-necked pheasants from backyard flocks of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: frequency and pathology

Abstract

The present investigation is related to the frequency of infection and to the gross and microscopic lesions

Capillariid nematodes in Brazilian turkeys, Meleagris gallopavo (Galliformes, Phasianidae): pathology induced by Baruscapillaria obsignata and Eucoleus annulatus (Trichinelloidea, Capillariidae)

“…The prevalence and the intensity of infection reported here for E. annulatus were low, similar to those reported for pheasants by Pinto et al (2004) in Brazil and by Tampieri et al (2005) in Europe. Although gross and microscopic alterations induced either by E. annulatus or B. obsignata were not described in studies of the former authors, there is the description of lesions caused by E. perforans in pheasants that are similar to those provoked by E. annulatus presently observed in turkeys and that consist of a mild esophagitis and epithelium elongated-lined (tunnels) of the crop lined with eosinophilic material, in the presence of cellular debris and eggs of the parasites.…”

“…These alterations, apparently had no effect for the feeding process of the birds, and the absence of clinical signs associated to the parasitism with E. annulatus observed here, are probably related to the low parasite burden (5 nematode specimens) harbored by the single infected turkey, what is in accordance with Pinto et al (2004), since this nematode is known to be highly pathogenic to turkeys. According to Hurst et al (1979) that reported to the death of 23 young (6-10 weeks) turkeys out of the 56 observed and infected with E. anullatus; the infection was the cause of inappetence, loss of weight and lethargy.…”

“…Data after Pinto et al (2004) suggest that the tunnels formed by the migration of capillariid worms in the epithelium of the crop and esophagus of infected birds may promote the settlement of secondary infections that, intensifying the severity of the lesions, can cause the death of the host.…”

“…In Brazil, investigations related to the pathology induced by helminths in turkeys are restricted to those of the pioneer paper by Barretto and Mies-Filho (1942) and more recently to the results reported by Brener et al (2006a, b), describing the pathogenic action of the trematode Paratanaisia bragai, the nematodes Cheilospirura hamulosa, Heterakis gallinarum and the protozoan Histomas meleagridis infecting this avian host. In despite of representing the most frequent and relevant worms to parasitize Galliformes with reports worldwide, the capillariid nematodes (formerly included among the Trichiuroidea) were only listed in Brazil, occurring in several avian hosts, including turkeys, with no data on associated pathology (Costa et al 1986, Vicente et al 1995, except for the results obtained by Pinto et al (2004) …”

Baruscapillaria obsignata: a serious cause of enteropathy and high mortality in turkeys (meleagris gallopavo)

“…Enteric Capillariasis caused by B. obsignata is known to occur in all birds belonging to Anseriformes, Ciconiiformes, Columbiformes, Galliformes, Piciformes and Psittaciformes (Jortner et al 1967;Rickard & Pohl 1969;Pinto et al 2004;Pinto et al 2008;Yabsley 2008;Park & Shin 2010;D' Avila et al 2011). There are few reports traced on enteric Capillariasis caused by B. obsignata infections in turkeys, and the severity of the disease was different in each report (Hurst et al 1979;De Rosa & Shivaprasad 1999;Pinto et al 2008).…”