A case of Contracaecum spiculigerum (Ascaroidea:Anisakinae) infection in a cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).

Abstract

An infection of Contracaecum spiculigerum was seen in the proventriculus of a cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) kept for fishing at Leshan, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China, in April 1985. Erosions with hemorrhages were seen in areas of the mucosa where many worms burrowed. Many nodes with worms were seen in the muscular layer and projected from the serosal surface. Most worms in the muscular layer were surrounded by cell infiltration and granulation tissue, and showed regressive changes. The tissue response was characterized by the presence of homogeneous eosinophilic substance by the degenerating worms which surrounded by the foreign-body giant cells. The 4th stage larvae of the species were thought to invade the glandular lumen and muscular layer of the proventriculus. Following development, most of the larvae may return to the lumen of the proventriculus, but some larvae may remain in the muscular layer and succumb to degeneration after maturity.