-An Air Sac Nematode Found in a New Holland Honeyeater ().

Abstract

A New Holland honeyeater (), a common species found mostly in the southern parts of Australia, was examined after a presumed traumatic incident but died several hours after presentation. At necropsy, anematode was found in a cranial air sac. Although no obvious gross pathologic changes were attributed to the nematode, histologic changes of bronchial epithelial hyperplasia and goblet cell metaplasia, consistent with chronic airway irritation were found in the lungs associated witheggs.species are parasitic nematodes found in the air sacs of birds. These parasites have an indirect life cycle; larval stages develop in insects, and when eaten by the host, these larvae migrate to the air sac and become adults. Althoughspecies have been found in birds worldwide, none, to our knowledge, have previously been described in New Holland honeyeaters.