DISEASE SUMMARY PAGE

Gonglyonema pulchrum Infection in Bears and Lagomorphs:

Summary Information
Diseases / List of Parasitic Diseases / Disease summary
Alternative Names --
Disease Agents Gonglyonema pulchrum, a spirurid nematode found in a variety of mammalian hosts worldwide. (J1.14.w10, J1.22.w8)

Intermediate hosts of Gonglyonema pulchrum are various Blattaria and Coleoptera. (J1.14.w10)

From Ursus americanus - American black bear:

  • Males length 29.1 mm (range 23-37 mm), width 185 µm (range 150-230 µm). (J1.22.w8)
  • Females length 58.7 mm (range 40-75 mm), width 327 µm (range 270-360 µm). (J1.22.w8)
  • Embryonated eggs 36.0 µm (31.2-43.2) by 59.7 (52.8-64.8) µm. (J1.22.w8)
  • Note: the high prevalence, and finding that most females were gravid, suggests that Ursus americanus - American black bear is a natural host for this nematode. (J1.22.w8)
  • Numerous specimens of Gonglyonema pulchrum (? = G. ursi) were present in the tongue of an Euarctos americanus americanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear) from Pennsylvania, which had been found dying, emaciated with loose matted hair and easily-torn skin. (J11.36.w1)
    • Female 41-55 mm long, body diameter 240-260 um, oesophagus 7 mm long, anterior portion 500-600 um. Tail 200-250 um, vulva 1.6-2.1 mm from posterior end. (J11.36.w1)
    • Male 20-25 mm long, body diameter 180-190 um, oesophagus 4-4.2 mm, anterior portion 500-600 um, tail 230-315 um. Left spicule 9-9.6 mm long, right spicule 105-140 um, gubernaculum 50-70 um long. Five pairs of preanal papillae and four pairs of large postanal papillae. (J11.36.w1)
    • Eggs 54-60 um by 30-33 um. (J11.36.w1)
Infectious Agent(s)
Non-infectious Agent(s) --
Physical Agent(s) --
General Description
  • Found in muscles: described from tongue, diaphragm and oesophagus. (J1.14.w10, J1.22.w8, J381.50.w1)
  • May be present more commonly in the diaphragm than the tongue, based on individuals in which both tissues were examined. (J1.14.w10)
  • Grossly visible. (J1.22.w8)
  • One to 55 worms (mean 5.9) per tongue were noted in one study. (J1.22.w8)
Further Information In bears
  • Gongylonema pulchrum was found in the tongue and oesophagus of 54% of Ursus americanus - American black bear during a survey of black bears from six states in the southeastern USA, July 1973-November 1976. It was noted that the worm was present in the oesophagus more commonly than in the tongue and that this was the only parasite found in a denning bear. (J1.14.w10)
  • Numerous specimens of Gonglyonema pulchrum (? = G. ursi) were present in the tongue of an Euarctos americanus americanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear) from Pennsylvania, which had been found dying, emaciated and with loose matted hair and easily-torn skin. (J11.36.w1 )
    Gonglyonema pulchrum was detected in the oesophagus of 38.2% of 46 Ursus americanus - American black bears examined during a survey in Florida, October 1976-April 1981. (J381.50.w1)
  • Gonglyonema pulchrum were found in the oesophagus of two bears during a survey of 22 Florida black bears Ursus americanus floridanus (Ursus americanus - American black bear) cubs (up to 12 months old) between 1998 and 2003, with one nematode found in one bear and 87 in a second bear. (J11.90.w2)
  • This parasite has not been detected in Ursus americanus - American black bear from Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Wisconsin, Alberta, Ontario or Quebec; Pennsylvania may represent the northern limit. (J1.22.w8)

In Lagomorphs

  • Found in the oesophagus of 1% of 260 Sylvilagus floridanus - Eastern cottontail from the southeastern USA, 1966-1967. There were 1- 6 worms per infected host. this was a new host record for this parasite and it was considered probably an incidental host. (J1.16.w19)
Associated Techniques
Host taxa groups /species
Disease Author Dr Debra Bourne MA VetMB PhD MRCVS (V.w5)
Referees Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior MA,PhD,DSc (H c: Mult) , AM(H c),DVM&S (H.c),DVMS(H.c) ,DVM(H,c) F.Med Sci.,Hon FRCVS F.Inst Biol. F.R.C.Path (H.c), DVSM, MRCVS (V.w135)

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