Syngamus trachea

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SYNGAMUS TRACHEA

  • The 'gapeworm' - an atypical strongyloid.
  • Deep red in colour.
  • 'Y'-shaped as the smaller male is permanently attached to the female.
  • Lives in the trachea.
  • Wide host range, including many wild birds (rooks and crows commonly affected) as well as poultry and game birds.
  • Causes respiratory distress (gapes), especially in young birds.

Life-Cycle

  • The egg is like a typical strongyle egg, except that there is an operculum at each end.
  • Infective larva develops inside the egg.
  • Birds can be infected by ingesting:
    • the larvated egg
    • the larva after hatching out of the egg
    • or by eating an earthworm (transport host) that has previously swallowed an egg or larva.

Epidemiology

Gapes is a common and serious problem in pheasant poults. A common sequence of events is as follows:

  • Infected wild birds (e.g. crows):

→ droppings on ground

→ soil contaminated with Syngamus eggs

→ earthworms infected

→ reservoir of infection

→ eaten by pheasant poults reared on earth-floored pens in woodland

→ disease.