Species-specific features of Aonchoteca bursata and Baruscapillaria obsignata (Nematoda, Capillariidae), infecting domestic chickens (Gallus gallus dom.)

Capillariids are a family of parasitic nematodes characterised by significant fluctuations of the taxonomic value of morphological features at the genus and species levels. Here, we present the results of a study identifying features of Baruscapillaria obsignata and Aonchoteca bursata, obtained from domestic chickens. Aside from the morphological differences in the studied capillariid species, significant differences in 14 metrical parameters of males and in 8 in females were found out. The comparative metrical analysis of eggs revealed significant differences in 4 parameters between B. obsignata and A. bursata. According to the conducted analysis, metrical comparative indices may enhance and increase the effectiveness of species identification based on the species-specific features of males and females.