"diseased" wigeon

[wildfowler.250]

Shot this wigeon at the weekend and it looks like it had a sarcocystis infection,(a parasite). Anyone seen many of these before? Funnily enough, I wouldn't have noticed had I plucked the bird but the skin was tearing so I decided just to breast the meat out.

 

 

Thought it might be of interest.

Edited December 15, 2013 by wildfowler.250

[ratty1]

I've seen that before on a couple of occasions, never looked into what it was though,

[Reabrook]

It's what the Americans call rice breast.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Hunt_Trap/waterfowl/sarcocystis.asp

[wildfowler.250]

Yeah the old man said he's seen one or two but that's the first one I've noticed. Didn't fancy eating it although I'm sure it wouldn't have done any harm

[edenman]

I had a wigeon last month with a very mild form of it. If you cook it right through it kills the parasite and you can eat it.

[snowmonster]

Just for curiosity where was it shot, area wise that is I don't mean up the jacksie or in the mush .

[wildfowler.250]

Just for curiosity where was it shot, area wise that is I don't mean up the jacksie or in the mush .

North Scotland

I had a wigeon last month with a very mild form of it. If you cook it right through it kills the parasite and you can eat it.

Yeah I didn't fancy it! Have you seen it often?

[edenman]

No that was the first time I have seen it and I always breast my wigeon out. I wimped out eating it and gave it to the dogs!!! You can only see it if you peel the skin off so I wonder how many of us have eaten them with it without knowing?

[snowmonster]

I wonder how many of us have eaten them with it without knowing?

 

My thoughts exactly and having always plucked until very recently the odds increase, not a nice thought .

[wildfowler.250]

No that was the first time I have seen it and I always breast my wigeon out. I wimped out eating it and gave it to the dogs!!! You can only see it if you peel the skin off so I wonder how many of us have eaten them with it without knowing?

My old man said "I always thought they were fat deposits. We've probably eaten a few". Oh well..ignorance is bliss

 

I'm sure cooking would kill them anyway

[nic]

for those of you not sad enough to have looked anything up on here is a link to some info

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC523554/

 

re these parasites....

[snowmonster]

I wish I hadn't have read that, it doesn't make me feel any happier about the thought of having eaten it .

[whalefish]

No that was the first time I have seen it and I always breast my wigeon out. I wimped out eating it and gave it to the dogs!!! You can only see it if you peel the skin off so I wonder how many of us have eaten them with it without knowing?

I wouldnt feed it to the dogs mate, can still infect them and can be quite serious (rarely tho).

[edenman]

I wouldnt feed it to the dogs mate, can still infect them and can be quite serious (rarely tho).

Correct but I made sure it was well cooked.

[kent]

There is one golden rule, if it looks iffy chuck it! all said and done few will feel comfortable eating it even if they know cooking kills

[wildfowler.250]

Have to say I do eat things rare as Ignorance is bliss

[babka3487]

I shot a teal with it last season on the humber, didn't eat it!

[jammydodger]

I shot one about 12 year ago at lindisfarne,first time i had seen it in over 40 years of wildfowling sent it to the DEFRA lab.

[wildfowler.250]

I shot one about 12 year ago at lindisfarne,first time i had seen it in over 40 years of wildfowling sent it to the DEFRA lab.

Did they ask for it? Tbh I just chucked mine. Sounds like there's the odd few going about.

[jammydodger]

my daughter worked in the lab & had told the chief vet about it , he had only herd about it but never seen it,It is common in the US in mallard,it is thought to be past on through foxes ,ie the fox eats the dead affected bird then it passes through the fox with no affect on the fox ,so if the fox drops a heap in a wetland area the duck feeding in that area can pick up the bug and it all starts again.