Filarial tenosynovitis caused by Pelecitus species (Spirurida, Filarioidea, Onchocercidae) in the legs of a channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus).

Abstract

An adult channel-billed toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus), imported from Surinam, South America, 18 months earlier, was found dead in its cage. At necropsy, the hock joints were swollen bilaterally and had a reduced range of motion. Small curled worms were present in subcutaneous tissue around the joints, with edema and fibrin formation. These worms were classified as the filarioid nematode, Pelecitus species. Blood-borne microfilariae were seen in cytologic impression smears of the lung and the leg lesions.