563 



is to ivill one of the sick chickens, when he suspects 

 lapewoiius, and to cut out the intestine; he should 

 then open the intestinal tract from the gizzard to the 

 anus, in a howl of warm w;iI<m-, and look for the par 

 asites. 



At least one species of tapeworm (Davainea tetra- 

 jjona) causes a serious nodular disease in the intestine 

 of chickens which upon superficial examination ma.v 

 I'asilj be mistaken for tuberculosis. This disease was 

 probably first published by Rivolta & Del Prato (1880 

 or 1881?). It was afterwards described by Piana (1882) 

 as occurring in chickens in Italy, and quite recently 

 Moore (1895) has recorded it in this country. The fol- 

 lowinj>: is extracted from Moore's article on tlie sub- 

 ject: 



In the spring of li>M, a fowl (Uallus domesticus) dieil at the 

 experiment station of this Bureau with a disease characterized 

 by nodules or tubercle-like bodies in.' the intestinal wall. Upon 

 closer inspection the lesions were found to be in the subserous 

 and muscular coats, and not, to any appreciable extent at 

 least, in the glands. In the intestinal contents there was a 

 large number of smaU tap-sworms, many of which were firmly 

 attached to the mucosa. Later in the season about twenty 

 fowls from the same flock were used for experimental purposes, 

 and upon post-mortem examination were found to be more or 

 less affected with this disease. In addition to these, one of four 

 fowls which were examined from a flock of poultry on a farm 

 adjoining th« experiment station was found to be infested 

 with tapeworms and the intestinal wall studded with nodules. 

 A fowl received from Newbern, N. C. and one from Tacketts 

 Mills, Va.. were similarly affected. 



Although but one fatal case came under my observation, the 

 extent of the lesions in several of the fowls examined indicated 

 that .sooner or later many of them would undoubtedly have suc- 

 cumbed to this disease. The close resemblance of the nodules 

 to tubercles renders necessary a somewhat detailed description 

 of the lesions and of the means by which this disease can be 

 readily differentiated from tuberculosis without the aid of 

 laboratory facilities. 



