Syngamus trachea, commonly known as the gapeworm, is a parasitic nematode that infects the upper respiratory tract of birds. It has a complex life cycle involving an intermediate host such as an earthworm or snail where it encysts. Adult male and female worms are permanently joined in a Y-shape in the trachea of birds. They lay eggs that pass in the feces and hatch inside or outside the host. Clinical signs in infected birds include weakness, emaciation, and breathing difficulties as the worms cause tracheitis and pneumonia. Diagnosis is made by finding the characteristic eggs in feces or adult worms in the trachea during necropsy. Treatment involves deworming medications and controlling

1. Leyte Normal UniversityTacloban CitySyngamus trachea(Gapeworms in fowl)Presented by:Jenelyn P. CadionBS Biology 3

2. TaxonomyKingdom: Animalia Phylum: Nematoda Class: Secernentea Order: Strongylida Family: Syngamidae Genus: Syngamus Species: S. trachea

3. Syngamus tracheaParasite of the upper respiratory tract of non-aquatic birds, commonly known as the “gapeworm”

4. Sometimes designated as "redworm" or “forked worm”

5. The resulting disease is known as gapeMorphologymales and females are joined together in a state of permanent copulation forming a Y shape

6. female 20mm long; male 6mm longSyngamus trachea

8. Operculated Egg, Thick-Shelled EggLength: 78-100 ; Width: 43-60

9. HostsDefinitive hosts of Syngamus tracheaare chickens, turkeys, geese, guinea fowl, pheasants, peafowl, quail, and other birds of all ages

10. Intermediate or paratenichosts include earthworms, snails, (Planorbariuscorneus, Bithynia tentaculata), or slugs, where it encysted.Life cycleHas preparasitic and parasitic phases

11. In preparasitic phase, L3s develop inside the eggs at which time they may hatch.

12. The parasitic phase involves substantial migration in the definitive host to reach the predilection site.Life cycleInfection may occur in one of three ways. 1. By ingestion of an egg containing an L3 (A).2. By ingestion of the hatched L3 (B). 3. By ingestion of a transport host containing encapsulated L3s (C).

13. Following ingestion, the L3s will be in the duodenum (D) of the final host, molt, and pair off.

14. They penetrate the intestine and travel first to the liver and then to the lungs (E) via the bloodstream. Adult males and females pair off move up to the trachea and begin copulation in the bronchi and trachea (F).

15. Eggs escape from the vulva under the bursa of the permanently attached male and are carried up the trachea in the excess mucus produced in response to infection. They are then swallowed and passed in the feces, completing the cycle.

16. Eggs are passed in the feces of infected birds. Unlike other strongyloids, S. trachea larva develops within the egg until it reaches the L3 stage. Prepatent periodThe prepatent period is approximately two weeks with a range of 12-17 days.

17. Various reports have shown that adults may survive for

18. 23-147 days in chickens

19. 48-224 days in turkeys

20. approximately 98 days in guinea fowl.Pathogenesiscauses catarrhal tracheitis, asphyxiation and pneumonia

21. lymphoid nodules form at the point of attachment of the worms in the bronchi and trachea.

22. Birds infected with gapeworms show signs of weakness and emaciation, usually spend much of their time with eyes closed and head drawn back against the body