Other Poultry parasites

Question 1

Name the burrowing mite of poultry

Answer 1

Knemidocoptes spp

Question 2

How can burrowing mites be distinguished from their appearance?

Answer 2

They have short legs that don’t go beyond the body margins

Question 3

Name the two non-burrowing mites of poultry

Answer 3

• Dermanyssus gallinae

- Ornithonyssus sylvarum

Question 4

Dermanyssus gallinae is also known as?

Answer 4

The poultry red mite

Question 5

How does Dermanyssus gallinae appear?

Answer 5

Appears bright red when fully blood-engorged, grey/black later

Question 6

What is the significance of Dermanyssus gallinae infections in birds?

Answer 6

• There may be pruritis, papules and crusts on birds
• Birds become debilitated, stop feeding
• Anaemia due to blood feeding habit
• Diagnosis can be difficult because mites are seldom recovered from animals

Question 7

Ornithonyssus sylvarum is also known as?

Answer 7

The northern fowl mite

Question 8

How can Ornithonyssus sylvarum be distinguished from Dermanyssus gallium

Answer 8

• Morphologically similar to D. gallinae
• The anal plate is pear-shaped not D-shaped– no point in treating accommodation if only this species is present (ID therefore important)

Question 9

Describe the morphology of Dermanyssus gallinae

Answer 9

1mm in size
Long legs
D-shaped anal plate

Question 10

Name two poultry lice

Answer 10

Menacanthus spp

Lipeurus spp

Question 11

How do poultry affected with lice appear?

Answer 11

Affected birds unable to rest, irritated, body weight decreases, egg production drops

Question 12

Which species of parasite is the poultry gape worm?

Answer 12

Syngamus trachea

Question 13

What are some features of Syngamus trachea

Answer 13

• Hookworm
• Affects chickens, gamebirds, turkeys etc.
• Wild bird reservoir
• Adult worms in the trachea

Question 14

What gives Syngamus trachea the classic ‘Y’ shaped appearance?

Answer 14

Permanently paired worms- the male is constantly inside the female worm inseminating the eggs

Question 15

What are the disease effects due to Syngamus trachea?

Answer 15

Mechanical blockage of trachea, asphyxia, coughing, and gasping

Question 16

Describe the life cycle of Syngamus trachea

Answer 16

• Characteristically shaped egg (80um with mucoid end) is passed in faeces
• L3 develops in egg
• Infection via ingestion of: L3 in egg, Hatched L3. L3 in transport/ paratenic host (earthworm)
• L3 migrates from small intestine to lung via bloodstream
• Adults develop in trachea

Question 17

What is the PPP of Syngamus trachea?

Answer 17

18-20 days

Question 18

What are the features/appearance of Capillaria spp

Answer 18

• Very thin (capillary-like) worms, 1-5cm long
• Found in the upper digestive tract (crop, oesophagus) or small intestine
• Characteristic eggs (barrel shaped with two mucoid plugs)

Question 19

Describe the life cycle of Capillaria spp

Answer 19

• L1 develops in egg
• For those with indirect life cycles the intermediate host (earthworm)
• Birds infected by ingesting earthworm
• PPP 3-4 weeks
• Can be highly pathogenic, head of worm buried deep in mucosa leading to diphtheritic inflammation

Question 20

What are the signs of a Capillaria infection?

Answer 20

Inappetence, weight loss, decreased egg production

Question 21

Name and describe the poultry ascarid that lives in the small intestine

Answer 21

Ascaridia galli

12cm long

Question 22

Name and describe the poultry ascarid that lives in the caeca

Answer 22

Heterakis gallinarum

1.5cm long

Question 23

How are poultry nematodes controlled in housed birds?

Answer 23

• Only parasites with direct lifecycles important
• Most have resistant eggs (Ascaridia, Heterakis and Capillaria)
• Biosecurity: prevent introduction of nematodes with new batches of birds
• Use of in feed BZs (flubendazole)

Question 24

How are poultry nematodes controlled in outdoor reared birds or birds maintained outdoors?

Answer 24

• Parasites with direct AND indirect lifecycles important
• Resistant eggs and intermediate/transport hosts means parasite stages persist in environment.
• Wild birds important source of infection
• Biosecurity: prevent introduction of nematodes with new batches of birds
• Use of in feed BZs (flubendazole)
• Rotate pens between batches of birds e.g don’t use same pen for different batches of birds when rearing them

Question 25

Name the highly pathogenic protozoal parasite of turkeys

Answer 25

Histomonas meleagridis

Question 26

Describe the pathogenesis and disease caused by Histomonas meleagridis

Answer 26

• ‘blackhead’ – severe entero-hepatitis
• High levels of mortality
• Trophozoites in caecum erode caecal epithelium
• Invade liver causing necrosis and typical (pathognomic) saucer-like lesions

Question 27

What are the clinical signs of Histomonas meleagridis infection

Answer 27

Depression, ruffled feathers, sulphur yellow faeces

Cyanosis of the wattle and comb (hence blackhead)

Question 28

How is Histomonas meleagridis transmitted?

Answer 28

Transmitted in larvated eggs of Heterakis gallinarum

Question 29

How is Histomonas meleagridis controlled?

Answer 29

• Control relies on good biosecurity
• Control Heterakis infection – if you get rid of Heterakis you have controlled Histomonas. Flubendazole to control this worm
• Chickens are asymptomatic carriers, so avoid rearing turkeys on ground previously used for chickens

Question 30

Which parasite is being described?
Young game birds, watery bright yellow diarrhoea. Direct transmission. No treatment. Prevent by all in/all out, mix age groups, rotate pens.

Answer 30

Spironucleosis meleagridis

Question 31

Which parasite is being described?
Upper respiratory tract of finches, pigeons, birds of prey. Oral canker, cheesy yellow material around beak. Direct transmission. Has led to decline in greenfinches over recent years.

Answer 31

Trichomonas gallinae