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Recent Observations on Helminthiasis in some British Game Birds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

Phyllis A. Clapham
Affiliation:
Wellcome Veterinary Research Station, Frant, Sussex

Extract

1. Helminth parasites may be important causes of disease and death among game birds, both among penned stock and in the field. S. trachea is probably the most important, but species of Heterakis follow closely, having both a direct and an indirect effect. T. tenuis must be considered as potentially important and may be responsible for much loss when the right ecological factors are present.

2. It is clear that game farmers will need to pay careful attention to methods of controlling the spread of helminths: in particular, to prevent the spread of T. tenuis, which can build up quickly to epizootic proportions on restricted areas where the bird population is high. Pheasants are potential hosts of this species and the death rate could easily be serious under careless management.

3. The presence of poultry near or with penned birds is fraught with danger as many helminths have a wide host distribution among related gallinaceous birds. Thus species of Capillaria and Heterakis which normally cause little trouble among poultry, can cause death and disease among game birds.

4. The few wild chicks examined were interesting. There is a heavy loss of wild chicks but only rarely are dead ones seen so that little is known about the cause of this loss. Adverse weather conditions and predators no doubt are important, but it is obvious from the few cases reported above, that S. trachea and H. isolonche may also be causes of considerable importance.

5. Many old birds are carriers of parasites and contaminate the ground with ova. Thus young stock with no resistance may well pick up lethal infestations, if they are allowed to graze land previously used by old birds.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1961

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References

Clapham, P. A., 1949.—“On Capillaria cadovulvata, pathogenic to Perdix perdix.J. Helminth., 23, 6970. (W.L. 11224c).CrossRefGoogle Scholar