Whittington R J, Spratt D M
New South Wales Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Glenfield, Australia.
J Wildl Dis. 1989 Oct;25(4):521-6. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-25.4.521.
Pathological findings associated with helminth and arthropod parasites of four wild platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) are described. Fourth-stage larval rhabditoid nematodes (?Cylindrocorporidae) found partially embedded in the stratum corneum were associated with mild acanthosis, orthokeratotic hyperkeratosis and inconstant subacute dermatits. A filarioid nematode (?Lemdaninae) was found in hypodermal lymphoid tissue. A larval trichostrongyloid nematode was found in the dermis, with no evidence of host response. An undescribed species of trombiculid mite ("chigger") was found in the pelage and attached to superficial stratum corneum. Focal inclusions of eosinophilic material within stratum corneum, interpreted as mite gel saliva produced during formation of the "stylostome," were also observed. The tick Ixodes ornithorhynchi punctured the epidermis causing adnexal trauma, dermal haemorrhage and chronic active dermatitis. The digenean Mehlisia ornithorhynchi was present in the small intestine of one animal and was associated with mild catarrhal enteritis.
本文描述了四只野生鸭嘴兽（Ornithorhynchus anatinus）体内与蠕虫和节肢动物寄生虫相关的病理发现。在角质层中发现部分嵌入的第四期类杆状线虫幼虫（？筒线虫科），伴有轻度棘皮症、正角化过度角化，以及偶发的亚急性皮炎。在皮下淋巴组织中发现一种丝虫样线虫（？莱姆线虫亚科）。在真皮中发现一条幼虫期毛圆线虫，未发现宿主反应迹象。在鸭嘴兽的皮毛中发现一种未描述的恙螨科螨类（“恙螨”），并附着于角质层浅层。在角质层内还观察到嗜酸性物质的局灶性内含物，推测为“吸管口”形成过程中产生的螨类凝胶状唾液。蜱类的鸭嘴兽硬蜱叮咬表皮，导致附属器损伤、真皮出血和慢性活动性皮炎。吸虫类的鸭嘴兽梅氏吸虫存在于一只动物的小肠中，与轻度卡他性肠炎有关。
