Reported median body size for this species (Length mm; width micrometers; weight micrograms) - Click:
Distribution:
Parasite of swans and geese. Adults located in cardiac muscles of swan;
microfilariae in blood smears (Cohen, 1988).
Vector-borne filarial nematodes; parasites of birds.
Initial detection of Sarconema eurycerca by Wehr (1939) was from
the cardiac muscle of Whistling Swans.
Swans. Sarconema eurycerca) has been recorded from four species of
swans: Whistling, Trumpeter, Bewick and Mute (Cohen, 1988),
Intermediate host is a feather louse Trinoton anserinum which
has all the attributes required for that role: it is an onbligate parasite,
capable of ingesting microfilariae while taking a blood meal from the
definitive host (swan), has high mobility and can move among swans.
Microfilariae develop to the third stage in the louse.
When transmitted to definitive hosts (swans), microfilariae migrate
through circulatotory system and into cardiac musculature where they mature
to adults.
Swans infected by Sarconema eurycerca have significantly elevated
lymphocyte percentages and lower pecentages of eosinophil, haematocrit
and red corpuscles that uninfected swans (Cohen, 1988).
References:
Cohen, S. 1988. Sarconema eurycerca (Wehr): the heartworm of swans
and the role of Trinoton anserinum (F) as an intermediate host.
Doctoral Thesis, Loughborough University of Technology. 202p.
Wehr, E.E. 1939. New genera and species of Filarioidea. III. Sarconema
eurycerca. Poc. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 6(2)
Revised by Howard Ferris:
October 13, 2026.