Found a "worm" on the breast?

[Tracydr]

Was processing a "gimp" Cornish X today with broken leg. Kinda felt bad because the poor pullet had to wait for the holiday weekend to end before I could process her. Anyway, I saw something I hadn't seen before. Her breast was quite dirty, I'm sure from not walking for four days. But, I found this nasty, 1/4 inch long, corkscrew shaped "worm" hooked into the the surface of the breast meat. Color was white and it was well attached. I'd say it was roundish body, probably not flat. I've tried to search for a picture and can't find anything like it.
Any ideas? I've seen something like it in fish but never in chicken.

 

[annageckos]

Have you looked up bot fly larva? That is the first thing that comes to my mind.

 

[Tracydr]

Definitely not a bot. It's very threadlike. Not maggot like or fat like a bot-worm.
Almost looked like lightweight fishing line in consistency and thickness.

 

[annageckos]

The only thing I can find on worms in the flesh is Trichinella spiralis. But I don't know if chickens can carry it.

 

[bigredfeather]

I've seen what you're talking about, but I didn't think it was a "worm". I thought they were just pin feathers. Now you have me wondering.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Because she was spending a bit of time on the ground, perhaps it was hookworm.

 

[Tracydr]

Quote:
That's exactly what it looks like!
Now, what?

 

[nurse_turtle]

That's the only answer I have...
What to do now? Dunno. I'll read up on it though. I know hookworms live in the soil.

 

[Tracydr]

So, sounds like it doesn't really belong on my chickens. My dogs and cats. Were recently tested, clean of parasites. Cooked meat should be safe. I cleaned out that area of the breast and it wouldn't survive cooking anyway. It would normally burrow into the intestines through an animals bare feet, usually a dog, cat or sometimes a person in a warm, subtropical or tropical area. I guess I just won't worry about it too much, disgusting as it is.

 

[nurse_turtle]

I wouldn't worry about it either. Maybe it was a young worm and skipped worm-class the day they discussed which animals to infest. I vote, chicken pie!