Cerebrospinal nematodiasis and visceral larva migrans in an Australian (Latham's) brush turkey.

Cerebrospinal nematodiasis and visceral larva migrans were diagnosed in an Australian (Latham's) brush turkey (Alectura lathami) that died at the Indianapolis Zoo following a progressive neurologic disease. Histologically, multifocal areas of malacia, necrosis, and inflammation were seen in sections of cerebrum, cerebellum, and midbrain; lesions were most severe in the cerebellum. A large granuloma in a lung contained cross sections of a large ascarid larva identified as Baylisascaris. The CNS lesions were typical of larval migration, as documented in other avian species. An epizootiologic investigation indicated that Baylisascaris procyonis was the etiologic agent and that the bird had acquired the parasite through contact with fecal contamination from wild raccoons at the St Louis Zoo, where the bird had been raised.