Chandlerella quiscali

Chandlerella quiscali, also known as the Grackle nematode, is a species of filarial nematode that parasitizes the brain of several common North American birds, namely the grackle, blue jay, brown cowbird, and starling. Due to the large area covered by the combined habitats of these bird species, Chandlerella quiscali is found throughout North America. This area diversity is further aided by the fact that 98% of grackles possess this parasite, and grackles are consistently found in various North American locations.[2]

Chandlerella quiscali
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Nematoda
Class:
Chromadorea
Subclass:
Spiruria
Order:
Spirurida
Superfamily:
Filarioidea
Family:
Onchocercidae
Genus:
Chandlerella
Species:
C. quiscali
Binomial name
Chandlerella quiscali[1]
Linstow, 1904

History

This species was originally called the Filaria quiscali by its discoverer, von Linstow (1904), due to pieces of the posterior ends of females removed from the area under the pia mater of the cerebrum in grackle. In 1960, this worm was incorrectly placed in the genus Splendidofilaria by Odetoyinbo and Ulmer. Due to the fact that its esophagus and cuticle don't match those of this particular genus, it had to then be removed from this group. Anderson and Freeman correctly placed this species in the genus Chandlerella in 1969, proving that von Linstow's previous naming of the worm was indeed correct.[3]

Effects of infection in birds

Birds that are infected by Chandlerella quiscali normally do not display symptoms, but those that do, do so in the form of torticollis or ataxia.[4]

References
  1. "Taxonomy browser (Chandlerella quiscali)". Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2013-11-06.
  2. Granath Jr., WO. "Fat of the wild avian filarial nematode Chandlerella quiscali (Onchocercidae: Filarioidea) in the domestic chicken". Poult Sci. 59 (5): 996–1000. doi:10.3382/ps.0590996. PMID 7393850.
  3. Robinson Jr., Edward (August 1971). "Culicoides crepuscularis (Malloch) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) as a Host for Chandlerella quiscali (Von Linstow, 1904) comb. n. (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae)". The Journal of Parasitology. 57 (4): 772–776. doi:10.2307/3277795. JSTOR 3277795. PMID 5105962.
  4. Law, JM; Tully, TN; Stewart, TB. "Verminous encephalitis apparently caused by the filarioid nematode Chandlerella quiscali in emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae)". Avian Dis. 37 (2): 597–601. doi:10.2307/1591695. PMID 8363522.
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