Diseases / List of Parasitic Diseases / Disease description:
Capillariasis in Birds (with special reference to Waterfowl)

INFORMATION AVAILABLE

GENERAL INFORMATION

CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS & PATHOLOGY

INVESTIGATION & DIAGNOSIS

TREATMENT & CONTROL

SUSCEPTIBILITY & TRANSMISSION

ENVIRONMENT & GEOGRAPHY

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General and References

Disease Summary
  • Nematode infection of the gastro-intestinal tract which can cause severe clinical disease in some birds (e.g. may affect oesophagus, crop, caeca)
  • In waterfowl it is occasionally associated with enteritis, anorexia, weight loss, enteritis and diarrhoea, but is not an important parasite.

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Alternative Names (Synonyms)
  • Capillaria infection

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Disease Type
 Parasitic - Roundworms

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Infectious/Non-Infectious Agent associated with the Disease

Further information on Disease Agents has only been incorporated for  agents recorded in species for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken). Only those agents with further information available are linked below:

Infective "Taxa"

Non-infective agents

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Physical agents

 -- Indirect / Secondary

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References

Disease Author

 Debra Bourne
Click image for main Reference Section

Major References / Reviews

Code and Title List

 B12.55.w1, B13.46.w1, B15, B16.19.w1, B24, B48.20.w20

Other References

Code and Title List

 B91

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Clinical Characteristics and Pathology

Detailed Clinical and Pathological Characteristics
  • Usually subclinical infection.
  • Occasional anorexia, dysphagia, diarrhoea, weakness and weight loss associated with damage to mucosa.
Clinical signs

Generally causes weakness, emaciation, “droopiness”. Slightly different syndromes are seen in different host species and with different nematode species. 

(B48.20.w20)

WATERFOWL
  • Capillaria contorta is occasionally associated with anorexia, dysphagia and diarrhoea, weakness, weight loss and emaciation (B13.46.w1, B16.19.w1, B48.20.w20).
    • May have a slow unsteady gait.
    • Move only if disturbed. 
    • May sit on hocks in penguin-like posture. 
    • May extend and retract head as if attempting to swallow or to remove an obstruction.
  • Capillaria anatis may cause emaciation and diarrhoea, sometimes haemorrhagic (B24).

Incubation

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Mortality / Morbidity
  • Can cause severe clinical disease and death in some bird species
WATERFOWL
  • Clinical disease rare; only seen with heavy infections (B12.55.w1, B13.46.w1).

Pathology
  • Gastro-intestinal tract - Crop and oesophagus walls markedly thickened; mucosa covered with flocculent exudate. (B48.20.w20).

Pathology

 WATERFOWL
  • Capillaria contorta is usually found in the oesophagus and crop. In large numbers may cause thickening, inflammation and necrosis of the oesophageal/crop wall, with mucosa covered with flocculent exudate (B15, B24, B48.20.w20).
  • Capillaria obsignata is usually found in the small intestine. (B48.20.w20)
  • Catarrhal (chronic infection) or haemorrhagic enteritis with Capillaria anatis in caeca (B24).
  • Necrotising enteritis (B13.46.w1).

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Human Health Considerations
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Susceptibility / Transmission

General information on Susceptibility / Transmission
Susceptibility:
  • Capillaria obsignata and Capillaria contorta have been recorded in a wide range of bird species. (B48.20.w20).

Transmission:

  • Direct or indirect life cycle. Ingestion of infective eggs or ingestion of invertebrates such as earthworms which have ingested eggs. Eggs require about one month to become infective after being excreted by the host; infection in new host may be patent (egg-producing) after 1-2 months (B24, B48.20.w20).
WATERFOWL Susceptibility:
  • All species of waterfowl may be susceptible (B13.46.w1).
  • Clinical disease likely only with heavy parasite burdens (B12.55.w1).
  • Heaviest infection with Capillaria anatis, and therefore disease, most likely to be seen in young birds (B24)

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Disease has been reported in either the wild or in captivity in:
Infection has been recorded in:

Further information on Host species has only been incorporated for  species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken).

Host species with further information available are listed below:

WATERFOWL Host Species List

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Disease / Agent has been specifically reported in Free-ranging populations of:
Infection reported in:
  • Cygnus olor mute swan, in Scotland, UK (J7.50.w1).
  • Cinnamon teal Anas cyanoptera in southwest Texas, USA (J1.13.w6).
  • Snow goose Anser caerulescens wintering in Texas, USA (J1.33.w4).

Further information on Host species has only been incorporated for  species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature review has been undertaken).

Host species with further information available are listed below:

WATERFOWL Host Species List

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Environment/Geography
General Information on Environmental Factors/Events and Seasonality
Heavy contamination more likely to occur in the captive environment (B15).

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Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded

UK, USA (J1.13.w6, J1.33.w4, J7.50.w1).

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Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded in Free-ranging populations

UK, USA (J1.13.w6, J1.33.w4, J7.50.w1).

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General Investigation / Diagnosis

General Information on Investigation / Diagnosis
  • Faecal sample examination: presence of lemon-shaped eggs indicates the presence of adult   “Capillaria spp.” (B48.20.w20). Identification of the species of Capillaria by examination of the egg structure requires specialist assistance.
  • At post-mortem examination, Capillaria worms in the crop and oesophagus are probably Capillaria contorta or Capillaria annulata (The presence of a cuticular inflation around the head in Capillaria annulata allows differentiation from Capillaria contorta) (B48.20.w20)
WATERFOWL
  • Faecal flotation: eggs barrel-shaped, with bipolar plugs, slightly rough shell, 50-55µm by 25 µm containing single cell (B13.46.w1, B16.19.w1).
  • Post mortem examination: lesions associated with parasites in oesophagus and crop (Capillaria contorta), small intestine (Capillaria anatis) (B13.46.w1, B15, B16.19.w1, B24, B48.20.w20).
Related Techniques
WaterfowlINDEXDisInvTrCntr.gif (2325 bytes)

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Similar Diseases (Differential Diagnosis)
WATERFOWL --

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Treatment and Control

Specific Medical Treatment
WATERFOWL Piperazine 45-200mg/kg oral or 6-10g in 4 litres drinking water, mebendazole 5-15mg/kg oral two days, thiabendazole 200-500mg/kg oral, levamisole 25-50mg/kg oral, tetramisole 200-500mg/kg (B13.46.w1, B16.19.w1).
Related Techniques
WaterfowlINDEXDisInvTrCntr.gif (2325 bytes)

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General Nursing and Surgical Techniques
WATERFOWL --
Related Techniques

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Preventative Measures
Vaccination WATERFOWL --
Prophylactic Treatment

WATERFOWL

 For information on routine parasite control see Preventative Medicine for Birds - Parasite screening and Routine Control Measures
Related Techniques
WaterfowlINDEXDisInvTrCntr.gif (2325 bytes)

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Environmental and Population  Control Measures
General Environment Changes, Cleaning and Disinfection

WATERFOWL

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Population Control Measures WATERFOWL --
Isolation, Quarantine and Screening WATERFOWL --
Related Techniques
WaterfowlINDEXDisInvTrCntr.gif (2325 bytes)

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