CLINICAL ILLNESS IN A WILD TURKEY WITH LAMINOSIOPTES CYSTICOLA INFESTATION OF THE VISCERA AND PERIPHERAL-NERVES

Laminosioptes cysticola, the fowl cyst mite, was found in peripheral n erves and thoracic and abdominal viscera of an emaciated eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) exhibiting severe torticollis, circling, loss of balance, and wing droop. Mites, sometimes accompanied by granu lomatous inflammation, were abundant in brachial plexus and sciatic ne rves. Mild lymphoplasmacytic perivascular cuffing was present in the c erebellum, but no direct evidence of mites or other infectious agents was found in the central nervous system. This is the first report of L . cysticola infestation in a wild turkey and of the invasion of nervou s tissue by this mice.