Atypical parasitic migration and necrotizing sacral myelitis due to Serratospiculoides amaculata in a prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus)

An adult, wild-caught, female prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) was presente d with the chief complaint of anorexia. Radiographic findings included incr eased densities within the air sacs, and coelomic endoscopy revealed numero us slender worms within the air sacs and on the serosal surfaces of the ova ry, oviduct, liver, proventriculus, and ventriculus. The bird seemed to imp rove for a short period of time with antiparasitic therapy (ivermectin and fenbendazole) and supportive care. Twenty-one days after initial presentati on, the bird became recumbent with increasing pelvic limb neurologic defici ts and was euthanized. On histopathologic examination, mature nematodes and larvated eggs identified as Serratospiculoides amaculata were found within the subdural space of the distal thoracolumbar and synsacral spinal cord a nd within the coelomic cavity. This case suggests that S. amaculata can cau se clinically significant lesions in its falconiform host with potentially fatal results.