It is a parasitic nematode produced by worms of the species Heterakis and his presence is very selective, appearing only in the cecum of the fowls.

Photo: Males are smaller and shorter, measuring 9 mm in length, with a single curved tail, marked with a red circle.

Females are thicker and longer, measuring about 13 mm long, with a straight tail.

Cecal heterakis in birds is caused by tiny worms. Heterakis gallinarum.

These worms have the body twisting and flexuoso, and its size is very small. It is located in the interior of the contents of the blind.

Cecal ascaris become more prevalent during the dry season. Eggs exposed to temperatures between 28 °C and 35 °C reach the infective stage in six days.

The life cycle is similar to that of roundworms, although development is faster than in roundworms, since once the larva is released into the intestine, it quickly reaches the bottom of the cecum, where, after a 12-day larval stage, it matures into an adult and is able to lay eggs.

The presence of Heterakis spends most of the time unnoticed, being a pathological process by presence and predation. Sometimes, if there is an abundance, they tend to cause inflammation in the bottom of the blind.

When the infestation is mild, there are no specific symptoms, but if it is severe, it can lead to cecal inflammation, accompanied by diarrhea, weight loss, and, in the most extreme cases, developmental and egg-laying disorders.

Products such as levamisole, mebendazole, albendazole, or fenbendazole are used to treat it.