Difference between revisions of "Syngamus trachea"

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=== '''''SYNGAMUS TRACHEA''''' ===
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{{OpenPagesTop}}
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*The 'gapeworm' - an atypical strongyloid.
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{{Taxobox
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*Deep red in colour.
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|name              = ''Syngamus trachea
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*'Y'-shaped as the smaller male is permanently attached to the female.
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|kingdom            = Animalia
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*Lives in the trachea.
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|phylum            = [[:Category:Nematodes|Nematoda]]
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*Wide host range, including many wild birds (rooks and crows commonly affected) as well as poultry and game birds.
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|class              = Secernentea
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*Causes respiratory distress ('''gapes'''), especially in young birds.
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|sub-class          =  
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|order              = Strongylida
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|super-family      = [[Strongyloidea]]
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|family            = Syngamidae
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|sub-family        =
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|genus              = Syngamus
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|species            = '''''S. trachea'''
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}}
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Also known as: '''''Syngamus parvis — Syngamus gracilis — Gapeworm
  
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==== Life-Cycle ====
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==Introduction==
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*The egg is like a typical strongyle egg, except that there is an operculum at each end.
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''S. trachea'' is a [[Nematodes|nematode]] of the superfamily [[Strongyloidea]], and is found worldwide. It commonly affects the lungs of many game birds within the UK.
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*Infective larva develops inside the egg.
 
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*Birds can be infected by ingesting:
 
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**the larvated egg
 
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**the larva after hatching out of the egg
 
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**or by eating an earthworm (transport host) that has previously swallowed an egg or larva.
 
  
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==== Epidemiology ====
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==Hosts==
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Gapes is a common and serious problem in pheasant poults. A common sequence of events is as follows:
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Chickens, turkeys, pigeons and game birds.
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*Infected wild birds (e.g. crows):
 
  
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→ droppings on ground
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==Identification==
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The female is deep red in colour, and the male is white. They are permanently copulating forming a Y shape. The worms have large buccal capsules.
  
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→ soil contaminated with ''Syngamus'' eggs
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==Life Cycle==
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L1-L3 develops in the egg. Infection may be via ingestion of L3 in the egg, or a hatched L3, or ingestion of a paratenic host, most commonly the earthworm and the slug.
  
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→ earthworms infected
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The L3 penetrate the intestine and then enter the lungs. The L3 then undergo two further moults, and copulation occurs in the trachea a few days later.
  
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→ reservoir of infection
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The prepatent period of ''S. trachea'' is between 16 and 20 days.
  
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→ eaten by pheasant poults reared on earth-floored pens in woodland
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==Clinical Signs==
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The parasite causes '''laboured breathing''', and ''''gaping'''': affected birds stretch out their necks, open their mouths and gasp for air producing a hissing noise as they do so. Severe infestation may obstruct the tracheal lumen resulting in '''suffocation'''.
  
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→ disease.
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Other clinical signs include: coughing, weakness, emaciation and shaking of the head.
  
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[[Category:Strongyloidea]][[Category:Poultry Nematodes]]
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Adult birds are usually less affected and may only show an occasional cough or even no obvious clinical signs.
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[[Category:To_Do_-_Max]]
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==Diagnosis==
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Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of '''clinical signs'''.
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On '''post mortem''': small nodules and adult worms can be found in the trachea of infected birds.
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'''Faecal smears''' can also be performed, which may reveal characteristic bioperculate eggs.
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Differential diasnoses:
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:[[Mycoplasma meleagridis|Mycoplasmosis]]
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:[[Aspergillosis]]
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==Treatment and Control==
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Medication licensed in the UK and effective against ''Syngamus'' include anthelmintics of the '''benzimidazole''' group and nitroxynil. The benzimidazoles are best administered in the feed, nitroxynil is given in drinking water. Caution must be exercised in using nitroxynil which may result in toxicity, kidney damage and egg production problems; it is not recommended for use in birds over 17 weeks old.
 +
 
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Infection can be prevented by raising birds on wire so they do not come into contact with the eggs or intermediate hosts.
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Birds raised on the ground are always at risk. They can be '''treated prophylactically''' with an anthelmintic. Since wild birds can also carry the parasite, efforts should be made to prevent their faeces from falling on the ground where poultry is being raised.
 +
 
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==References==
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Herenda, D. (1996) '''Poultry diseases and meat hygiene''' ''Wiley-Blackwell''
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Shapiro, L. (2005) '''Pathology and parasitology for veterinary technicians''' ''Cengage Learning''
 +
 
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{{Learning
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|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?rowId=1&options1=AND&q1=%22Syngamus+trachea%22&occuring1=title&rowId=2&options2=OR&q2=%22Syngamus+parvis%22&occuring2=title&rowId=3&options3=OR&q3=%22Syngamus+gracilis%22&occuring3=title&x=46&y=11&publishedstart=yyyy&publishedend=yyyy&calendarInput=yyyy-mm-dd&la=any&it=any&show=all ''Syngamus trachea'' publications]
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|flashcards = [[Avian Medicine Q&A 06]]
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|videos = [[Video: Avian trachea with Syngamus trachea potcast|Avian trachea with Syngamus trachea potcast]]
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}}
 +
 
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{{review}}
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{{OpenPages}}
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[[Category:Strongyloidea]][[Category:Avian Nematodes]]
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[[Category:Expert_Review - Bird]]

Revision as of 12:37, 25 August 2012


Syngamus trachea
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Nematoda
Class Secernentea
Order Strongylida
Super-family Strongyloidea
Family Syngamidae
Genus Syngamus
Species S. trachea

Also known as: Syngamus parvis — Syngamus gracilis — Gapeworm

Introduction

S. trachea is a nematode of the superfamily Strongyloidea, and is found worldwide. It commonly affects the lungs of many game birds within the UK.

Hosts

Chickens, turkeys, pigeons and game birds.

Identification

The female is deep red in colour, and the male is white. They are permanently copulating forming a Y shape. The worms have large buccal capsules.

Life Cycle

L1-L3 develops in the egg. Infection may be via ingestion of L3 in the egg, or a hatched L3, or ingestion of a paratenic host, most commonly the earthworm and the slug.

The L3 penetrate the intestine and then enter the lungs. The L3 then undergo two further moults, and copulation occurs in the trachea a few days later.

The prepatent period of S. trachea is between 16 and 20 days.

Clinical Signs

The parasite causes laboured breathing, and 'gaping': affected birds stretch out their necks, open their mouths and gasp for air producing a hissing noise as they do so. Severe infestation may obstruct the tracheal lumen resulting in suffocation.

Other clinical signs include: coughing, weakness, emaciation and shaking of the head.

Adult birds are usually less affected and may only show an occasional cough or even no obvious clinical signs.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of clinical signs.

On post mortem: small nodules and adult worms can be found in the trachea of infected birds.

Faecal smears can also be performed, which may reveal characteristic bioperculate eggs.

Differential diasnoses:

Mycoplasmosis
Aspergillosis

Treatment and Control

Medication licensed in the UK and effective against Syngamus include anthelmintics of the benzimidazole group and nitroxynil. The benzimidazoles are best administered in the feed, nitroxynil is given in drinking water. Caution must be exercised in using nitroxynil which may result in toxicity, kidney damage and egg production problems; it is not recommended for use in birds over 17 weeks old.

Infection can be prevented by raising birds on wire so they do not come into contact with the eggs or intermediate hosts.

Birds raised on the ground are always at risk. They can be treated prophylactically with an anthelmintic. Since wild birds can also carry the parasite, efforts should be made to prevent their faeces from falling on the ground where poultry is being raised.

References

Herenda, D. (1996) Poultry diseases and meat hygiene Wiley-Blackwell

Shapiro, L. (2005) Pathology and parasitology for veterinary technicians Cengage Learning


Syngamus trachea Learning Resources
FlashcardsFlashcards logo.png
Flashcards
Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions 		Avian Medicine Q&A 06
VideoWikiVideo.png
Videos
Selection of relevant videos 		Avian trachea with Syngamus trachea potcast
CABICABI logo.jpg
Literature Search
Search for recent publications via CAB Abstract
(CABI log in required) 		Syngamus trachea publications



This article has been peer reviewed but is awaiting expert review. If you would like to help with this, please see more information about expert reviewing.



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