ThePoultrySite Quick Disease Guide
Contents of Quick Disease Guide
Proventricular Worms
Extracted From:
A Pocket Guide to
Poultry Health and Disease |
Introduction
Dispharynx, Tetrameres and Cyrnea are nematodes, spiruroid worm parasites of poultry and game birds. They are found in the mucosa of crop and proventriculus causing mainly inapparent infections. Infection is by the oral route on exposure to the intermediate hosts, including crustaceans, grasshoppers and cockroaches.
Signs
- Anaemia.
- Diarrhoea.
- Emaciation in heavily infected young chicks (Tetrameres).
Post-mortem lesions
- Inflammation, ulceration, haemorrhage, necrosis, and thickening of mucosa of proventriculus.
Diagnosis
Macroscopic examination of lesions, identification of worms.
Treatment
Not usually required.
Prevention
Prevention of access to intermediate hosts.