Capillariosis in backyard poultry

Capillaria spp. are common parasites of the oesophagus and crop in a wide variety of birds. Carcass of an adult desi chicken was submitted for postmortem examination with the history of severe emaciation, weight loss and death. The postmortem examination revealed thickened and haemorrhagic oesophagus. Histopathological examination revealed thickening of the oesophageal wall with a variable degree of inflammatory reaction. The parasite eggs were unevenly distributed in the thickened epithelium from superficial to serosal layer. The eggs were barrel shaped with operculum at both ends. Based on the microscopic, histopathological and morphological character of eggs, the case was confirmed as Capillaria spp.