First report of Thelazia sp. from a captive Oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana) in Japan

Nematodes of the genus Thelazia were recovered from the cornea and inferior conjunctival sac of an immature Oriental white stork (Ciconia boyciana). T he bird hatched and reared at the Toyooka Oriental White Stork Breeding Cen ter, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, but died of chlamydiosis. There were neither gross nor histopathologic ophthalmic lesions. The eye worm from a bird is b elieved to be first reported in Japan. As regarding reintroduction plan for the Oriental white stork, control measures for prevent further infection w ith the eye worm will be needed.