ANIMAL PARASITES 57 



been described for the serous cavities of the cat under the 

 generic name Dithyridium. 



Examination of Special Organs. — In the following outline 

 there will be mentioned only the more common or important 

 species of parasites of the cat. Additional species and references 

 to descriptions are listed in the Appendix, page 114. 



Lungs and Bronchi. — Remove the lungs to a dish of water 

 and examine for any abnormal conditions. Scrapings of the 

 mucosa and bronchi should be examined microscopically for 

 eggs of the fluke Paragonimus and the nematode lungworm 

 Capillaria cerophila. The former are typical operculate eggs of 

 flukes; the latter are very similar to the brown oval eggs with a 

 clear stopper-like plug at each end which you have seen in the 

 whipworm, Trichuris trichiura. Rarely, minute larval nematodes 

 are to be found in these scrapings. The}'- are immature forms of 

 another nematode, /Elurostrongylus abstrusus, whose eggs are 

 laid in the alveoli of the lung. The adults which are to be found 

 in the smallest bronchi, measure 5 to 10 mm. Cut the lungs into 

 fragments and search for adult worms of any of these species. 



Heart. — The senior author has recorded one case of the 

 presence of the filarial worm Dirofilaria immitis in the ventricles 

 of the heart of a cat. It is quite possible that such cases are to 

 be found in the South. 



Stomach. — Slit open and spread out the stomach on a dissecting 

 board and examine with the naked eye for any macroscopic 

 forms. Not infrequently the cat ascarid Toxocara mystax will 

 be found in this organ. Examine microscopically scrapings of 

 the stomach mucosa for the interesting nematode Ollulanus 

 tricuspis, a minute form measuring 1 mm. or less in length. 



Intestine. — Cut the intestine into sections, slit them length- 

 wise, and pin down. In slitting, care must be taken to avoid 

 injury to worms in the lumen. Collect and preserve the grosser 

 forms such as ascarids and tapeworms. Then examine closely 

 for threadlike hookworms and minute flukes. If tapeworms are 

 present, note the isolated segments, particularly those of Dipyli- 

 dium which are large, brick-red, and cucumber-seed shaped in 

 the ripe condition. 



Examine under the microscope samples of the content of the 

 small intestine for eggs or early stages of helminths. 



Gall Bladder and Liver. — Remove the gall-bladder to a dish, 

 open, and mount some of the content, diluting with water. 



