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| Diseases / List of Parasitic Diseases / Disease description: |
| Eustrongylides Infection in Waterfowl |
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General and References
Disease Summary |
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| WATERFOWL | Nematode infection of fish-eating birds which may cause mortality due to generalized tissue destruction by large numbers of migrating larvae. |
Alternative Names (Synonyms) |
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Disease Type |
| Parasitic - Roundworms |
Infectious/Non-Infectious Agent associated with the Disease |
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| Nematode worm Eustrongylides spp. | |
Infective "Taxa" |
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Non-infective agents |
-- |
Physical agents |
-- Indirect / Secondary |
Disease Author |
Debra Bourne |
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Major References / Reviews |
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Code and Title List |
B15, B24, B36.29.w29 J5.8.w3, J5.22.w5 |
Other References |
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Code and Title List |
B91 |
Clinical Characteristics and Pathology
Detailed Clinical and Pathological Characteristics |
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General |
WATERFOWL | Acute illness, nervous signs and death associated with overwhelming larval migration through visceral organs (verminous peritonitis). |
Clinical
Characteristics |
WATERFOWL | Depends on number of
invading larvae (B15). Larval infection: Found dead or signs of general sickness sometimes with severe nervous spasms of the head and neck, and eye-twitching (J5.8.w3). |
Incubation |
WATERFOWL | Acute disease may be seen with overwhelming infection (J5.8.w3). |
Mortality / Morbidity |
WATERFOWL | Infection may be common in some regions, and occasional epizootics occur in fish-eating birds (J5.8.w3, J5.22.w5, B15). |
Pathology |
WATERFOWL | Degree of pathology
depends on number of invading larvae. Larval
infection: verminous peritonitis. Bacterial peritonitis (due to bacteria introduced by larvae) may also occur. Histopathology: extensive tissue destruction of affected organs, associated with nematodes. Worms may be surrounded by tunnels of fibrous connective tissue. Adult nematodes: may cause temporary nodules while developing in the tunica muscularis of the proventriculus; resolve by about 30 days post infection (B15). |
Human Health Considerations |
| Gastritis and intestinal perforation have been reported in humans eating infected fish (B36.29.w29). |
Susceptibility / Transmission
General information on Susceptibility / Transmission |
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| WATERFOWL |
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Disease has been reported in either the wild or in captivity in: |
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WATERFOWL Host Species List |
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Disease / Agent has been specifically reported in Free-ranging populations of: |
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| Natural infection recorded in red-breasted mergansers Mergus serrator. Die-offs reported associated with gorging on infected fish (J5.8.w3, J5.22.w5, B15). | |
WATERFOWL Host Species List |
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Environment/Geography
| General Information on Environmental Factors/Events and Seasonality |
| Eutrophication and warm water temperatures (20-to-30°) create optimal conditions for the parasite; infection among fish is reported to be highest where external sources of nutrients or thermal pollution alter natural environments (B36.29.w29). |
Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded |
| Eustrongylides spp. occur in Europe and North America (J5.8.w3, B15, B24, B36.29.w29). |
Regions / Countries where the Infectious Agent or Disease has been recorded in Free-ranging populations |
| North America (J5.8.w3, B15) |
General Investigation / Diagnosis
General Information on Investigation / Diagnosis |
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| WATERFOWL | Presence of nematodes associated with lesions (B36.29.w29). |
| Related Techniques | |
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Similar Diseases (Differential Diagnosis) |
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| WATERFOWL | -- |
Treatment and Control
Specific Medical Treatment |
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| WATERFOWL | -- |
| Related Techniques | -- |
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General Nursing and Surgical Techniques |
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| WATERFOWL | -- |
| Related Techniques | -- |
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Preventative Measures |
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| Vaccination | WATERFOWL | -- |
| Prophylactic Treatment | WATERFOWL |
For information on routine parasite control see Preventative Medicine for Birds - Parasite screening and Routine Control Measures |
| Related Techniques |
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Environmental and Population Control Measures |
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| General Environment Changes, Cleaning and Disinfection | WATERFOWL |
Control in the natural environment is difficult due to short time to patent infection, prolonged viability of eggs and long infection time of intermediate host fish. Water quality improvements may be useful. Fish used for birds being rehabilitated or reared in captivity should be chosen from sources likely to be free from infection with Eustrongylides sp. (B36.29.w29). |
| Population Control Measures | WATERFOWL | --
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| Isolation, Quarantine and Screening | WATERFOWL | -- |
| Related Techniques |
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