Gapes

Gapes, a disease of fowls and other birds, due to the presence of threadworms or Nematodes (Syngamus trachealis) in the windpipe. As a large number (twenty) may be present, the worms cause inflammation, suffocation, and death. The worms breed in the trachea, embryos are conghed up, and, if swallowed by the same or other birds, pass from stomach to air-sacs, lungs, and eventually to the windpipe. As to the external life of the embryo there are two theories: Mégnin, for instance, says that they get into the food when conghed up, and thus pass very directly from fowl to fowl; while H. D. Walker has given strong reasons for suspecting that they pass first into the earth, then into earthworms, and thence into birds. For treatment, see the books named at POULTRY. See also PARASITIC ANIMALS.