CHAPTER XL 

 EQUINE ENTOZOA. 



The entozoa which infest the horse are divided into four 

 groups — 



I. TREMATODA, or FLUKES. 



The trematodes are so called because their bodies are 

 studded with little perforations or suckers. 



The word ' fluke ' is derived from an old Saxon term 

 signifying anything flat. 



Flukes are oval or flat, but they may be spherical, whilst 

 others, such as the Bilharzia, are more lengthened. 



This group is divided into several families, according to 

 the number of mouths they possess. The six families recog- 

 nised are as follow : 



1. Monostomidse. 



2. Distomidse. 



3. Amphistomidse. 



4. Tristomidse. 



5. Polystomidse. 



6. Gyrodactylidse. 



The chief flukes recorded as having been found in the 

 horse are — 



(A.) Fasciola Hepatica, otherwise known by the name 

 of Distoma Hepatica, or the Liver Fluke. 



