The Life Cycle and Morphology of Ascaridia columbae (Gmelin, 1790) Travassos, 1913 (Nematoda:Ascarididae) in the Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The life cycle of Ascaridia columbae, the large intestinal roundworm of the pigeon, with descriptions of the preparasitic and parasitic stages, has been studied. Under conditions and methods employed the first-stage larva appears in the egg in 12 to 15 days. This larva molts to the second or infective stage in another 4 or 5 days while still within the egg. Second-stage larvae are encountered in the liver of nearly all infected birds. Periodic examination of larvae from the livers of infected birds killed every few days for 50 days after infection revealed that no development takes place in the liver. However, all stages in the development of the parasitic larvae and growth of worms to maturity were observed within the small intestine. The molt to the third stage occurs between the 3rd and 6th days after infection, to the fourth stage between the 11th and 15th days, and to the fifth stage between the 16th and 19th days. Adult worms attain a length of 40 to 50 mm. Eggs appear in the feces of the host 37 to 42 days after infec-tion. Differentiation of the sexes is possible in the late third-stage larvae. Males are slightly shorter than females, and the precursor of the preanal sucker of the male is indicated by a swelling in the region just anterior to the anal opening. Larvae were observed in the intestinal mucosa as early as 5 hr after ingestion of embryonated eggs and as late as the 25th day after infection. Invasion of the intestinal wall by the larvae of A. columbae is discussed in the light of observations on their behavior and on that of larvae of Ascaridia galli. How-ever, no definite decision is reached as to its relationship to the de-velopment of A. columbae.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: