Aquariosis are parasitic diseases in chickens, characterized by digestive disorders caused by the presence of certain nematodes in the proventriculus and gizzard. Photo courtesy of the National University of San Marcos, Peru.

Synhimantus (D) nasuta It is one of the most common species found in galliform birds (Goble and Kutz 1945, Sahay 1966) and is a heteroxenous parasite, that is, they require a terrestrial isopod (which lives in freshwater and sometimes in damp places, such as the woodlouse) to act as an intermediate host to complete their life cycle (Moore and Lasswell 1986, Anderson 2000).

These worms are found in the mucosa of the proventriculus and occasionally in the esophagus of birds. Generally, infection with Synhimantus (D.) causes inflammation and severe lesions in the lamina propria of the proventriculus, accompanied by ulcers, which leads to malabsorption (Soulsby 1988).

The presence of these worms leads to a lack of digestive juice secretion, causing severe disturbances in food absorption; young birds are particularly susceptible (Soulsby 1988). Massive infections can lead to cases of hemorrhagic proventriculitis, resulting in the death of the host (Led and Brandetti 1972, Quiroz 1984).

Wild birds in their natural habitat that are parasitized by Synhimantus (D.) nasuta do not exhibit clinical signs of the disease, unlike captive birds (Carreno 2008). This is because captive birds are predisposed to various types of stress, which results in a weakened or suppressed immune response, thereby promoting infectious conditions (Lozano 1998).

Furthermore, these wild birds act as carriers of these parasites into chicken coops, poultry barns, poultry production facilities, avian breeding centers, and zoos. For this reason, it is essential to take the necessary measures to prevent them from entering by installing netting over aviaries and around the perimeter of the facility, so that they do not contaminate our birds’ water and feed.

The process usually heal chronic and progressive. At the beginning, the animals retain the appetite, but losing weight quickly, a fact that is noticeable in the young birds, which can reach a state of cachexia.

The plumage is dull, fragile and appreciates pale skin intense in the chins and the crest.

When aquariosis is severe, undigested food appears in the feces, along with crop and gizzard distension and difficulty swallowing feed; the birds exhibit poor body condition as a result of the lack of nutrient absorption.