What is "gapeworm"

Gapeworm \Gape"worm`\ (? or ?), n. (Zo["o]l.) The parasitic worm that causes the gapes in birds. See Illustration in Appendix.

n. A parasitic nematode worm, (taxlink Syngamus trachea species noshow=1), that infects the tracheas of some birds and causes the disease gapes#Noun.

A gapeworm (Syngamus trachea), also known as a red worm and forked worm, is a parasitic nematode worm infecting the tracheas of certain birds. The resulting disease, known as "gape" or "the gapes", occurs when the worms clog and obstruct the airway. The worms are also known as "red worms" or "forked worms" due to their red color and the permanent procreative conjunction of males and females. Gapeworms are common in young, domesticated chickens and turkeys.

When the female gapeworm lays her eggs in the trachea of an infected bird, the eggs are coughed up, swallowed, then defecated. When birds consume the eggs found in the feces of an intermediate host such as earthworms, snails ( Planorbarius corneus, Bithynia tentaculata and others), or slugs, they become infected with the parasite.

The drug Ivermectin is often used to control gapeworm infection in birds.