Document Type : Case Report
Authors
1
Department of Avian Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
3
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
4
Department of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.22059/ijvm.2026.415217.1006110
Abstract
Case History: Birds of prey are highly susceptible to parasitic infections because of their predatory feeding habits; however, reports of Physaloptera sp. infections remain scarce in many regions. This study documents the first record of Physaloptera sp. in a raptor from Iran.
Clinical Presentation: A male common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) found on the outskirts of Tehran, presenting with severe weakness and dehydration, died shortly after admission.
Diagnostic Testing: Post-mortem examination revealed a single white nematode attached to the gizzard mucosa, mild mucosal hyperemia, and nephromegaly with urate deposition within the ureters. The nematode was preserved and processed for morphological identification, while gastrointestinal tissues were examined histopathologically. Morphological analysis identified the parasite as Physaloptera sp., based on diagnostic features including a distinct brown nerve ring at the esophageal junction, a thickened transversely striated cuticle, and a cephalic collar bearing small teeth. Histopathological evaluation revealed larval stages within the proventricular glands and an adult nematode in the intestinal lumen.
Assessment: This report provides the first morphological and histopathological identification of Physaloptera sp. infection in a common kestrel from Iran. Although the nematode was not determined to be the primary cause of death, the case underscores the importance of comprehensive necropsy and histopathological evaluation in diagnosing parasitic infections in debilitated wild birds. Further epidemiological and molecular investigations are recommended to clarify the prevalence, diversity, and pathogenic impact of helminths in birds of prey in Iran.
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