The first detection of acuaria spinosa in pheasants

Abstract

Parasitoses caused by the Acuariidae helminths sporadically occur in both free-living and artificially bred pheasant populations (Phasianus colchicus L.). In order to verify this situation, an investigation with the aim of detecting the Acuaria species. infection on seven pheasant farms in Serbia and Romania, was carried out. A total of 127 adult birds were examined. The collected nematodes were identified by their morphometric characteristics. The three different Acuaria species were identified including: Cheilospirura (Acuaria) hamulosa, Dyspharinx (Acuaria) spiralis and Acuaria spinosa. The parasites identified as the Acuaria spinosa species had equal lips and furrow cuticula. Both parasites had four spiny cordons 'which did not exceed a third of the anterior of the esophagus. The tail was short and rounded. Eggs were ellipsoid, thick shelled, embryonated, 0.039-0.41 mu m long by 0.025-0.027 mu m wide. Furthermore, the first parasite's body length was 32 mu m, with a width of 0.336 mu m (maximal width at the middle of the body). Four spiny cordons were 0.797 mu m long, and the cylindrical pharings were 0.018 mu m long. The vulva lies just posterior to the middle of the body, 3.56 mu m from the anterior end, 51% of the total body length (TBL) from the anterior end. The anus lies at 0.25 mu m from the posterior end. The body length of the second parasite was 34 mu m with a width of 0.367 mu m. Spiny cordons 'which did not exceed a third of the anterior of the oesophagus were 0.809 mu m long, and the cylindrical pharings were 0.021 mu m long. The vulva lies just posterior to the middle of the body, 5.64 mu m from the anterior end, 57% of the total body length (TBL) from the anterior end. The anus lies at 0.28 mu m from the posterior end. According to the authors knowledge this is the first detection of the Acuaria spinosa in pheasants (Phasianus colchicus L.).