Respiratory Acariasis Due to Sternostoma tracheacolum in Caged Canaries

Abstract

Since March, 1981, a chronic respiratory disease occurred in caged canaries on a farm keeping about 600 birds in Iwate Prefecture. Although no birds died, approximately one-third of 400 birds in breeding flocks showed a disturbance of chirping, moist rale and gasping. Histologic examination were performed on 9 birds, including 7 affected ones. Mites were found in the trachea and the bronchi of the lungs from 7 birds. There were hypersecretion, hyperplasia and desquamation of the epithelial cells. Hyperemia and round cell infiltration were also seen in the respiratory tract and air sacs.
No antibody was detected against Mycoplasma gallisepticum, M. synoviae or Newcastle disease virus. Extensive cultural examinations gave no significant isolates. Many mites, which were dark-brown and 0.6mm in length, were collected from the trachea of 3 birds in the flocks. They were identified as Sternostoma tracheacolum Lawrence 1948, Mesotiguata, Phnongssidae, and named “kotori-hanadani” in Japanese by Kitaoka. The affected birds were given freeaccess to water containing about 0.1mg/ml trichlorophon for 4 hours. After that the signs disappeared.