126 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [March, 



A STUDY OF METAZOAN PARASITES FOUND IN THE PHILADELPHIA 

 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



BY FRED. D. WEIDMAN, M.D. 



The first part of this communication deals with certain statistics 

 regarding all the parasitic worms found in the Gardens; the second, 

 \nth separate species which have been of economic, scientific, or 

 passing interest. 



Part I. 



The statistics which follow have been compiled from autopsy 

 protocols at the Laboratory of Comparative Pathology of the Phila- 

 delphia Zoological Gardens. The autopsies number 2,807, and ex- 

 tend from November 25, 1901, to January 1, 1913. They were 

 performed with care, especially those on the larger animals. All 

 mammalia and aves dying were examined. Only a few of the 

 reptilia received attention. The organs were not extensively 

 dissected or examined microscopically. They were closely scru- 

 tinized grossly, and if occasion warranted microscopical sections 

 were made. For these reasons many of the smallest parasites 

 have been missed, and this may explain the small number of flukes 

 appearing in our tables. 



The table opposite shows roughly an average of (excluding 1901- 

 1905, when the parasites were not especially searched for) 45 

 infestations per year. In 1910 there was a rise due to cestodes in 

 birds, and again a rise in 1911 which we trace across to nematodes- — 

 again in birds. Referring to the General Parasitological Table II, 

 nematode column, we find that of the aves it is the Psittaci and 

 Passeres which are responsible for the latter rise. Our detailed 

 Psittaci records now lead us to a certain worm, Spiroptera incerta. 

 This worm was apprehended, however, long before these tables 

 were compiled. This table led us to investigate the Passeres which 

 show 33 nematodes. A coiled Filaria in the serosa of the proven- 

 tricle was revealed. We propose to investigate it in the near future 

 It is probably Filaria pnngens. 



Table I is more of local than general scientific value. It shows 

 the incidence of parasites by years, and enables us to trace to its 

 source an}' special increase of infestation that may occur in the 

 Gardens. 



