Chaunocephalus ferox (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) infection associated with fatal cachexia in a white stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Abstract

Post-mortem examination of a sub-adult debilitated white stork (Ciconia ciconia) from southern Italy showed nodular enteritis associated with massive infection by Chaunocephalus ferox (Digenea: Echinostomatidae). Pathological changes included lesions ranging from traumatic destruction of tissues with hemorrhages and thickness of mucosa and submucosa at fluke penetration site to loss of duodenal villi and necrosis. Lesions through the whole intestinal tract associated with the digenean infection were considered as compatible with causing the cachexia and death of the white stork.