204 PARASITES IN THE INTESTINES 



The mucous membrane shows a severe enteritis with numer- 

 ous ecchymoses and many small ulcerations. The intestines 

 contain no food, only a slimy mucus in which are found the 

 parasites. In older dogs the parasites are fewer in number 

 and are found scattered along the entire length of the intes- 

 tine and rarely cause much change in the mucosa. 



Symptoms. Puppies and kittens when infested show 

 symptoms of inanition at three to five weeks of age. They 

 are stupid and do not play as such animals usually do at this 

 age. Vomiting is common and quite often some of the para- 

 sites are thus expelled. Emaciation increases, the mucous 

 membranes are anemic, and the abdomen appears enlarged 

 ("pot bellied"). Diarrhea is not uncommon, often alternat- 

 ing with constipation. Quite frequently the patients, espe- 

 cially kittens, show epileptiform or rabiform symptoms. 

 These are probably due to the irritation of the nervous system 

 produced by toxins excreted by the parasites as well as by 

 the irritation of the intestines they produce. These symp- 

 toms gradually become more severe, and finally food is 

 refused, followed by weakness, coma and death in five to 

 eight weeks. The temperature is only slightly elevated in 

 the early stages, later as coma comes on it is subnormal. 



In mild cases or in older dogs the symptoms are less 

 intensive, and often unnoticed. The appetite remains good, 

 often voracious, but the general condition is not the best; 

 the hair coat dull and rough and the growth impaired. 

 Young birds infested with round worms show diarrhea, 

 emaciation and depression, finally resulting in death. In 

 older birds the condition becomes chronic with marked ema- 

 ciation. 



Diagnosis. This can only be positively made by finding 

 the ova in the feces or the parasites in the feces or vomitus; or 

 on postmortem examination. (See Diagnosis of Tseniasis.) 

 The general symptoms are similar to those of tseniasis. 

 Ascariasis is, however, more common in very young animals 

 which have had no meat. When several animals or birds are 

 affected one or more of the typical cases should be killed 

 and a careful autopsy made. 



