Fatal Aberrant Parasite Migration of Echinuria uncinata in Two African Pygmy Geese (Nettapus auritus).

ABSTRACT

Two adult African pygmy geese (Nettapus auritus) were found dead with minimal clinical disease signs. Necropsy revealed aberrant migration of the nematode parasite Echinuria uncinata, as confirmed morphologically and through DNA sequencing. This common waterfowl parasite typically lives in the proventriculus, burying headfirst into the mucosa and laying eggs into the gastrointestinal lumen. In these geese, the parasites tunneled through the gastrointestinal tract wall to invade the coelomic cavity; from which, a substantial quantity of eggs found their way into the coelomic space and into the air sacs and lungs. This potential parasite migration should be monitored for in Anseriformes species that present with similar disease conditions, and the use of Daphnia species, the intermediate host, as a waterfowl feed source is not recommended.