Parasitism by the mite sternostoma tracheacolum in the respiratory system of a Belgian canary (Serinus canaria domestica) / Parasitismo pelo ácaro de sistema respiratório Sternostoma tracheacolum em um canário belga (Serinus canaria domestica)

ABSTRACT

Background: The nasal mites of the Rhinonyssidae family include the highest diversity of mandatory hematophagous endoparasites of the respiratory system of birds. In general, these mites cause no significant lesions, except Sternostoma tracheacolum that invades the trachea, lungs and air sacs and may compromise breathing in birds. This study reports the death of a Belgian canary (Serinus canaria domestica) due to the parasitism by S. tracheacolum with an aggravating and concurrent pododermatitis infection.Case A Belgian canary from a commercial bird flock, in which a high mortality rate had lately been recorded, was submitted to necropsy. Multiple blackened foci (1.0 mm in diameter) present in the trachea and the air sacs were subsequently identified as Sternostoma tracheacolum mites. Microscopically, there were diffuse and moderate infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and heterophils within the tracheal submucosa and areas of fibrosis and osseous metaplasia of the tracheal cartilage. In the air sacs, there were multiple yellowish-brown foci of caseous necrosis, which were surrounded by inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. In the lungs, there were foci of caseous necrosis surrounded by macrophages. In the tracheal lumen, mites sections were observed. Clusters of nucleated erythrocytes and brown granular pigment were seen withi

RESUMO

Background: The nasal mites of the Rhinonyssidae family include the highest diversity of mandatory hematophagous endoparasites of the respiratory system of birds. In general, these mites cause no significant lesions, except Sternostoma tracheacolum that invades the trachea, lungs and air sacs and may compromise breathing in birds. This study reports the death of a Belgian canary (Serinus canaria domestica) due to the parasitism by S. tracheacolum with an aggravating and concurrent pododermatitis infection.Case A Belgian canary from a commercial bird flock, in which a high mortality rate had lately been recorded, was submitted to necropsy. Multiple blackened foci (1.0 mm in diameter) present in the trachea and the air sacs were subsequently identified as Sternostoma tracheacolum mites. Microscopically, there were diffuse and moderate infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, macrophages and heterophils within the tracheal submucosa and areas of fibrosis and osseous metaplasia of the tracheal cartilage. In the air sacs, there were multiple yellowish-brown foci of caseous necrosis, which were surrounded by inflammatory infiltrate of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells. In the lungs, there were foci of caseous necrosis surrounded by macrophages. In the tracheal lumen, mites sections were observed. Clusters of nucleated erythrocytes and brown granular pigment were seen withi