Some Diseases and Parasites of Captive Woodcocks

Abstract

Observations were made concerning the diseases and parasites of a group of woodcocks (Philohela minor) caught in Massachusetts in the summer of 1960 and kept in captivity in Maryland, and of another group caught and kept in Louisiana in the winter of 1960-61. Bumblefoot, a granulomatous swelling of the foot caused by Micrococcus sp., is reported for woodcocks for the first time. Six of 31 woodcocks were infected with a renal coccidium of an undetermined species. Tetrameres sp. was found in 4 of 31 birds examined. Sarcocystis was found in one bird. Aerosaculitis was found in several. During the summer and fall of 1960, a group of woodcocks were kept in captivity at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center to serve as experimental subjects in a pesticide toxicity study. These birds were captured near Amherst, Massachusetts. Other woodcocks were caught and kept during the winter of 1960-61 near Maringouin, Iberville Parish, Louisiana. This paper describes some of the parasitic and pathological conditions found by examination of the live captive birds or by autopsy at the close of the studies. The findings reported here are incidental to the pesticide studies and no relationship between the two was uncovered. Methods of care of the birds and results of pesticide studies are discussed by Stickel, Dodge, et al. (1965); Stickel, Hayne, and Stickel (1965); and Stickel, Sheldon, and Stickel (1965). Autopsies, diagnoses, and laboratory studies were made by L. N. Locke; Mrs. Geis performed the bacteriological isolations and prepared tissues for histological examination. W. H. Stickel supplied the specimens from his experimental groups, provided data on living birds, and made examinations in Louisiana. The authors would like to thank Miss Marion Farr, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Parasitological Laboratory, for her assistance with the interpretation of the woodcock coccidium sections. Tissues collected for microscopic examination were fixed in 10 percent formalin, embedded in parafin, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Bumblefoot lesions were decalcified in Decal HNO3 solution.