Gapeworm

Gapeworm

taxobox | name = Gapeworm


image_caption = Gapeworms in the trachea of a Ringnecked Pheasant
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Nematoda
classis = Secernentea
ordo = Strongylida
familia = Syngamidae
genus = "Syngamus"
species = "S. trachea"
binomial = "Syngamus trachea"
binomial_authority = Montagu, 1811

A gapeworm ("Syngamus trachea") is a parasitic nematode worm infecting the tracheas of certain birds. The resulting disease, known as gape or the gapes, occurs when the worms clog and obstruct the airway. The worms are also known as red worms or forked worms due to their red color and the permanent procreative conjunction of males and females. Gapeworm is common in young, domesticated chickens and turkeys.

When the female gapeworm lays her eggs in the trachea of an infected bird, the eggs are coughed up, swallowed, then defecated. When birds consume the eggs found in the feces or an intermediate host such as earthworms, snails ("Planorbarius corneus", "Bithynia tentaculata", …), or slugs, they become infected with the parasite.

Ivermectin is a drug often used to control gapeworm infection in birds.

External links

* [http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation.org/S/0zANe_Secernente/stro_syn_syngamus/Syngamus_trachea.html]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Gapeworm — Gape worm (? or ?), n. (Zo[ o]l.) The parasitic worm that causes the gapes in birds. See Illustration in Appendix. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gapeworm — [gāp′wʉrm΄] n. a roundworm (Syngamus trachea) parasitic in the respiratory passage of young poultry and other birds and causing the gapes …   English World dictionary

  • gapeworm — noun Date: 1873 a nematode worm (Syngamus trachea) that causes gapes in birds …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • gapeworm — /gayp werrm , gap /, n. a nematode worm, Syngamus trachea, that causes gapes. [1870 75; GAPE + WORM] * * * …   Universalium

  • gapeworm — noun A parasitic nematode worm, Syngamus trachea, that infects the tracheas of some birds and causes the disease …   Wiktionary

  • gapeworm — gape·worm gāp .wərm n a nematode worm of the genus Syngamus (S. trachea) that causes gapes of birds * * * gape·worm (gāpґwərm) Syngamus trachea …   Medical dictionary

  • gapeworm — n. parasitical worm in birds that causes gaping (frequent opening of the mouth) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • gapeworm — noun a parasitic nematode worm that infests the trachea and bronchi of birds, causing the gapes. [Syngamus trachea.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • gapeworm — gape•worm [[t]ˈgeɪpˌwɜrm, ˈgæp [/t]] n. ivt a nematode, Syngamus trachea, that causes gapes • Etymology: 1870–75 …   From formal English to slang

  • gapeworm — /ˈgeɪpwɜm/ (say gaypwerm) noun a nematode worm, Syngamus trachea, which causes gapes …  

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