Two cestode species in Brazilian turkeys, Meleagris gallopavo (Galliformes, Phasianidae): pathology induced by Hymenolepis cantaniana and occurrence of Raillietina tetragona

the pathology induced in turkeys (meleagris gallopavo) by one cestode species hymenolepis cantaniana is described together with data on prevalence, mean infection and range of worm burdens. h. cantaniana occurred with a prevalence of 5.0 % in the 40 examined hosts in a range of 14-21 specimens and a mean intensity of 17.5. gross lesions were not observed in the parasitized birds. lesions due to h cantaniana mainly consisted of multiple segments of parasites, together with a mild mixed inflammatory reaction with the presence ofmononuclear cells and heterophils or severe transmural inflammatory processes, characterized by the presence ofmononuclear cells along the muscular and serosa layers of the intestinal villi and crypts. these are the first pathological findings related to the presence ofcestodes in turkeys to be reported in brazil so far. raillietina tetragona, not pathogenic to the present investigated turkeys, occurred with a low prevalence and range of infection of 2.5% and 1-2 worms, respectively.