Acuaris skrjabini infection of the gizzard of finches.

Adult finches from aviaries in Victoria, Australia, were reported to experience a 4 to 5% mortality rate. Affected birds were lethargic and inappetant and had mild diarrhea for 1 to 2 days before death. Lesions found on post-mortem examination were gizzard mucosal necrosis, with an associated 30 to 60 Acuaria skrjabini spiruroids in each bird and surrounding inflammation. Treatment of remaining finches in the aviaries with either 80 mg of levamisole or 50 mg of fenbendazole per liter of drinking water for 3 days prevented further cases. Acuaria sp. infection can be an important predisposing factor in the mortality of aviary finches.