title: Presence of encysted immature nematodes in a released whooping crane (Grus americana).
abstract: Numerous nematode cysts were observed throughout the mesentery and on the surface of gastrointestinal organs in a whooping crane (Grus americana) that was found dead in a central Florida marsh. Morphology of the excysted nematodes most closely resembled third-stage larvae in the order Spirurida but were not similar to any species previously reported in whooping cranes. Evidence presented suggests that the larvae may be Physocephalus sexalatus, a swine spirurid in the subfamily Ascaropsinae that is commonly found encapsulated in birds, amphibians, and reptiles. We suspect that the whooping crane may potentially serve as a transport host for this parasite.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts 01604, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kinsella
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Spalding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000469:parasitology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D001717:Birds; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005431:Florida; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000469:parasitology; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000469:parasitology; D009348:Nematoda / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*