Ascaridia galli Adult Nematode in Chicken Egg from a Commercial Organic Farm in Israel

Ascaridia galli (Ascaridida: Ascaridiidae) nematodes are intestinal parasites of domestic chickens and other Galliform species. They are ubiquitous worldwide, and perpetuation of their direct life cycle is favored by constant exposure of birds to infective worm eggs present in fecal material. Rarely, adult worms may be found in intact chicken eggs. We hereby describe a case of such a finding in a chicken egg from a commercial organic farm in Israel. Morphologic parameters, as well as sequences obtained following amplification of segments of the cytochrorne C oxidase subunit 1 and 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA loci were used to confirm the diagnosis. Subsequent testing of the respective flock has confirmed the presence of infection, and effective anthehnintic treatment has been applied. Although the eggs are non-aesthetic for consumers, they do not present a risk for human infection. Nevertheless, such an infection may negatively affect health and productivity of the respective flock, and should be addressed accordingly.