Pathosieiicsis. Syiiiptoiiis. Treatment. 241 



the former is rolled up. The youii,^- foriiis of tliis worm exist 

 in cysts contained in the abdominal cavity of cockroaches 

 (Blaitta orientalis). 



Natural infection occurs from the ingestion of cockroaches, 

 whereupon, after two weeks, small spiroptera become visible 

 in the esophagus (Grassi). 



Pathogenesis. The larvas taken into the stomach with cock- 

 roaches wander back into the esophagus, bore into the mucosa 

 and lead to the formation of hazelnut-sized or larger sw^ellings 

 the compartments of wdiich contain up to tw^entj^ w^orms em- 

 bedded in pus-. Except for a small opening at the apex of the 

 sw^ellings, the mucosa appears intact. Some of the parasites 

 frequently remain in the stomach, others ma}^ w^ander into the 

 organs wdth the lymph or blood current, particularly into the 

 w^alljof the aorta, wiiere they likewise cause a local inflammation. 

 According to Roger, the worms form metabolic products wdiich 

 excite the nerves of the heart. 



Symptoms. In the more carefully studied cases intestinal 

 disturbances w^ere observed (painful and difficult deglutition, 

 gagging or vomiting, empty mastication), also dry cough, dysp- 

 neic attacks, emaciation. Occasionally nervous disturbances 

 w^ere observed, especially w^eakness of the hind legs or a be- 

 havior as seen in rabies. Severe cases as a rule gradually lead 

 to death wdiich may also occur suddenly in consequence of rup- 

 ture of the aorta. 



Treatment. This can be only symptomatic. Better suc- 

 cess may be had by prophylactic measures consisting in the pre- 

 vention of the ingestion of cockroaches. 



Literature. Eoger, Eev. vet., 1007, 241 (Lit.). 



Other Animal Parasites in the Esophagus. There is found in the 

 epithelial covering of the esophagus of cattle spiroptera scutata JNEiieller, 

 also named Gongylomena sciitatum, Leuckart, a filiform worm, 4-10 

 cm. long; its cephalic end is provided with sliieldlike chitinons scales. 

 This worm has also been found in sheep and goats; another species Gr. 

 pulchrum is parasitic in swine. 



Larvffi of hypoderma lineata are found during the summer and winter 

 months in the submucous tissue of the pharynx and esophagus of cattle, 

 where they sometimes produce a hemorrhagic infiltration. 



In the intermuscular tissue of the esophagus of ruminants and 

 horses are found very numerous sacs of psorospermiae (Balbiania gigan- 

 tea), but they do not produce any disturbances. The same may be said 

 of Miescher 's tubules or the psorosperm sacs. 



