Syngamus trachea
Also known as red worm, forked worm, gapeworm
A gapeworm (Syngamus trachea), also known as a red worm and forked worm, is a parasitic nematode worm that infects the tracheas of certain birds. The resulting disease, known as "gape", occurs when the worms clog and obstruct the airway. The worms are also known as "red worms" or "forked worms" due to their red color and the permanent procreative conjunction of males and females. Gapeworms are common in young, domesticated chickens and turkeys.
Species
SPECIES
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumNematoda
- ClassChromadorea
- OrderRhabditida
- FamilyStrongylidae
via GBIF
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Morphology
- Life cycle and pathogenesis
- Epidemiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Control and treatment
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Sources
A gapeworm (Syngamus trachea), also known as a red worm and forked worm, is a parasitic nematode worm that infects the tracheas of certain birds. The resulting disease, known as "gape", occurs when the worms clog and obstruct the airway. The worms are also known as "red worms" or "forked worms" due to their red color and the permanent procreative conjunction of males and females. Gapeworms are common in young, domesticated chickens and turkeys.
When the female gapeworm lays her eggs in the trachea of an infected bird, the eggs are coughed up, swallowed, then defecated. Birds are infected with the parasite when they consume the eggs found in the feces, or by consuming a transport host such as earthworms or snails (Planorbarius corneus, Bithynia tentaculata and others).