Bird parasites: Part 2

Abstract

ENDOPARASITES A variety of nematodes can be found parasitising birds. Many have indirect lifecycles and so are only found in birds that are, or have been, housed in earth floored aviaries. Clinical signs of ‘worms’ are rare in caged pet birds, and routine deworming is not required. Young parakeets and budgerigars are occasionally parasitised by ascarid worms (Fig. 1) that can cause weight loss but more often cause sudden death due to enteric obstruction or occasionally neurological signs due to visceral larval migration. Roundworms of various species can cause general ill thrift or lack of fitness, and are particularly a concern of pigeon fanciers and falconers. Many pigeon fanciers will have a set routine of antiparasitic medications during the lead up to breeding or racing seasons including deworming and anticoccidial medications. Faecal analysis can help to target which parasites are most significant and also highlight treatment failures. In particular, the effective dose rates recommended for various types of roundworm differ (e.g. fenbendazole is recommended at 100 mg/kg repeated after 2 weeks for Ascaridia but 20 mg/kg daily for 5 days for Capillaria (Fig. 2)) and can be damaging (fenbendazole has been reported to cause abnormalities when used during moulting, and potentially causes blood dyscrasias) and so faecal