Spalding M G, Forrester D J
Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
J Wildl Dis. 1993 Apr;29(2):250-60. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-29.2.250.
Natural (n = 157) and experimental (n = 5) infections with the nematode Eustrongylides ignotus are described for ciconiforms collected in Florida (USA). Larvae perforated the ventriculus in 3 to 5 hr and caused hemorrhage and bacterial peritonitis that sometimes progressed to a fibrous peritonitis with extensive adhesions. Severity of the disease was related inversely to the age of the bird and directly to the number of parasites involved. Some infections in adult birds were resolved. As a consequence of eustrongylidosis, anorexia and behavioral abnormalities resulted in emaciation and may have predisposed birds to traumatic death. Host-parasite adaptations apparently were not adequate for nestling ciconiforms as death of nestlings usually occurred before infections become patent (longer than 14 days, less than 23 days). Patent infections were found in both color morphs of the great blue heron (Ardea herodius), and in great egrets (Casmerodius albus) and snowy egrets (Egretta thula). We propose that birds of the family Ardeidae are the primary definitive hosts.
本文描述了在美国佛罗里达州采集的鹳形目鸟类自然感染（n = 157）和实验感染（n = 5）线虫艾氏真圆线虫的情况。幼虫在3至5小时内穿透心室，导致出血和细菌性腹膜炎，有时会发展为伴有广泛粘连的纤维性腹膜炎。疾病的严重程度与鸟类年龄呈反比，与所涉及的寄生虫数量呈正比。成年鸟类的一些感染得到了缓解。由于艾氏线虫病，厌食和行为异常导致消瘦，可能使鸟类易受创伤性死亡。宿主 - 寄生虫适应性显然对雏鹳形目鸟类不足，因为雏鸟死亡通常发生在感染变得明显之前（超过14天，少于23天）。在大蓝鹭（苍鹭属）的两种颜色形态、大白鹭（白脸鹭属）和雪鹭（白鹭属）中发现了明显的感染。我们提出鹭科鸟类是主要的终末宿主。
