Diagnosis, Treatment, 905 



magnification, fine, worm-sliaped colorless embryos, which exe- 

 cute snake-like or circular movements between the blood cor- 

 puscles. (Hutyra & Marek failed to find a variation in the 

 number of embryos during the hours of the day and night, 

 although it is claimed by Manson and Sonsino that filaria ap- 

 pear in large numbers in the peripheral vessels only during 

 the night.) 



Treatment. This promises results in strongly infected 

 localities only in so far as some chronic cases without pro- 

 nounced disturbances in nutrition and circulation, may be ar- 

 rested (Janson). Good nutrition, avoiding exertion and new 

 infection, as well as the administration of heart tonics or 

 arsenical prejDarations come into consideration; Dorn recom- 

 mends atoxyl, which produces in man a diminution of the filaria 

 embryos. If a skin affection results this requires the applica- 

 tion of antiparasitic and itch-preventing remedies (see eczema 

 or scabies in Vol. II). 



Literature. Cadeac, J., vet. 1897. 582, — Deffke, Monli., 1890. I. 323. — ' 

 Fettick, Vet., 1900. 245, — Frohner, Monh., 1892. III. 494. — Grassi, Cbl. f, 

 Bakt., 1888. IV. 615. — Janson, A. f, Tk., 1892, XVIII. 63. — Petropawlowsky, 

 A. f. Vet.-Wiss., 1904. 484. — v. Ratz, Vet., 1898. 395. — Eoger, Bull., 1906. 119. 

 — Eosso, Mod. Zooiatrio, 1897. 185. 



Filaria Sanguinis Equi. In former times repeated reports appeared 

 relative to the occurrence of filaria embryos in the blood of horses 

 (Wedl, Sonsino, Manzanti, Lange). Tlie classification of the parasites 

 found was never satisfactory, while their differentiation from trypano- 

 somes was not attempted. Recently however Lingard proved by long 

 continued experiments that filaria embryos do pccur in the blood and 

 mature filaria in the blood vessels of horses. 



The filaria sanguinis equi is a thread-shaped, thin, whitish worm, the 

 males measuring 10-15 cm., the females about three times that length. 

 The caudal extremity appears rolled up and supplied with two uneven 

 spicules which are bordered by a papillae. The worm is ovoviviparous ; 

 the length of the embryos amounts to 160-220 m. The grown specimens 

 live in the walls of the large arteries, especially in the anterior or pos- 

 terior aorta, while the embryos circulate in the blood. 



The worms were found by Lingard in India especially in the native 

 horses while imported animals become affected only after long stays in 

 the country. The mode and manner of infection is not yet known; the 

 transfusion of blood containing embryos was negative in two cases. The 

 symptoms of the disease probably only appear after a long period of 

 latency, and consist of rapid fatigue, edematous swellings of the lower 

 parts of the extremities and the prepuce, at the same time the respira- 

 tion becomes much accelerated and small hemorrhages appear on the 

 conjunctivae. Sometimes moderate fever is observed. The heart action 

 is stronger and more frequent. The blood reveals embryos with a snaky 

 and circular movement, their number increases in the afternoon and 

 reaches its maximum in the evening. The embryos are especially 

 numerous during the hot and rainy season, but now and then they may 

 temporarily disappear entirely. 



