A variety of Habronematidae parasites (order Spirurida) have been described as occasional parasites of avian species; however, reports on passerines are relatively uncommon. From 2007 to 2008, 11 passerine deaths at The North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro, NC, USA, were associated with ventricular habronemiasis, which was determined to be the cause of death or a major contributing factor in 10 of the 11 individuals. The number and species affected were 5 Red-billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea), 2 Japanese White-eye (Zosterops japonicus), 2 Golden-headed Manakin (Pipra erythrocephala), 1 Blue-grey Tanager (Thraupis episcopus), and 1 Emerald Starling (Coccycolius iris). Affected animals displayed nonspecific clinical signs or were found dead. The ventricular nematodes were consistent in morphology with Procyrnea sp. Koilin fragmentation with secondary bacterial and fungal infections was the most frequently observed pathologic lesion. Secondary visceral amyloidosis, attributed to chronic inflammation associated with nematodiasis, was present in 4 individuals. An insect intermediate host is suspected but was not identified. Native passerine species within or around the aviary may be serving as sylvatic hosts. 1. Introduction Habronemiasis is used to describe infection by any of the genera of the family Habronematidae within the order Spirurida. The most well-known Habronematidae parasites, Draschia megastoma, Habronema muscae, and Habronema microstoma, are of minimal clinical significance as equine stomach parasites [1]. However, many members of the family Habronematidae (Odontospirura, Sicarius, Exsica, Procyrnea, Cyrnea, and Metacyrnea) are found in birds [2]. In nonpasserines, a variety of habronemes have been described as occasional parasites found within the proventriculus, ventriculus, and/or intestine. Reports are predominantly from Africa, Asia, and Australia and include buzzard, eagle, egret, falcon, fowl, hawk, hummingbird, kite, kiwi, owl, parrot, pigeon, tinamou, vulture, and woodpecker species [3–22]. With the exception of a lethal case in a black-backed woodpecker (Picoides arcticus), no host morbidity, mortality, or significant pathology is reported with habronemiasis in nonpasserines. Reports on habronemiasis in passerines appear to be much less common. Habronema hyderabadensis was found in the proventriculus and ventriculus of Gracula (religiosa) intermedia in India [11], while habronemes from the genera Viguiera and Cyrnea have been reported in the ventriculus of Australian passerines [12]. Neither described any clinical
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