Pathology and frequency of Cheilospirura hamulosa (Nematoda, Acuarioidea) in Galliformes hosts from backyard flocks.

This investigation reports data on frequency and pathology related to the nematode Cheilospirura hamulosa in 28 ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and 30 domestic chickens (Gallus g. domesticus) from backyard flocks of five localities of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The prevalence of C. hamulosa in pheasants was of 14.3%, with a mean intensity of 1.5 and range of infection of 1-2. In chickens these values were of 26.7%, 4 and 1-12, respectively. Parasitized birds did not present with clinical signs. In spite of the low parasite burdens, the lesions induced by C. hamulosa were severe in the two species of investigated hosts, causing severe gross lesions in the gizzard such as haemorrhages, ulcers and thickening of the mucosa and cuticle, and single yellowish nodules on the caudoventral muscle. The microscopic lesions, also severe, were characterized by chronic diffuse inflammatory processes and ulcers in the mucosa, and granulomas in the muscular, submucosa and serosa layers of this organ.