| Trichostrongylus tenius | |
|---|---|
| Class | Nematoda |
| Super-family | Trichostrongyloidea |
Hosts
Game birds, chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Identification
T. tenius is of the superfamily Trichostrongyloidea. The eggs are around 75μm in length, with a thin, smooth shell.
Life Cycle
The life-cycle and epidemiology of T. tenius is very similar to that of the Trichostrongylus species of ruminants, and hypobiosis can occur in winter. Eggs are past out in the faeces. The larvae develop in the heather, and are ingested by a host e.g. a grouse, when feeding on the heather. Worms are capable of surviving for up to 2 months, and are capable of causing damage to the intestine and the caecum.