Susceptibility of avian hosts to experimental Gymnophalloides seoi infection

J Parasitol. 2001 Apr;87(2):454-6. doi: 10.1645/0022-3395(2001)087[0454:SOAHTE]2.0.CO;2.

Abstract

To determine whether avian species are susceptible to infection with Gymnophalloides seoi (a human-infecting intestinal trematode), we exposed 7 species of birds with metacercariae obtained from oysters. The birds were necropsied at days 2, 4, and 6 postinfection (PI). The highest worm recovery at day 6 PI was obtained from the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus; mean = 56.0%), followed by the Mongolian plover (C. mongolus; 49.3%), and the grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola; 32.3%). In contrast, no mature worms were recovered from the great knot (Calidris tenuirostris), dunlin (C. alpina), black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris), and mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Among the plovers, the worms attained the greatest size at day 6 PI (254.1 x 190.4 microm) in the Kentish plover, with a significantly higher number of eggs in the uterus. The 3 species of plovers are highly susceptible to experimental G. seoi infection, suggesting that they could play a role as definitive hosts for these worms in nature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Albendazole / administration & dosage
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Anthelmintics / administration & dosage
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Bird Diseases / drug therapy
  • Bird Diseases / immunology*
  • Birds
  • Ducks
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Praziquantel / administration & dosage
  • Praziquantel / therapeutic use
  • Trematoda / pathogenicity*
  • Trematode Infections / drug therapy
  • Trematode Infections / immunology
  • Trematode Infections / veterinary*

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Praziquantel
  • Albendazole