COCHIN-CHINA DIARRHCEA. 2OQ 



ANGIOSTOMID^:. 



Strongyloides stercoralis. This parasite was formerly thought 

 to be the cause of Cochin-China diarrhoea. It presents two genera- 

 tions: i. Parasitical or intestinal form. 2. The free living or fecal 

 form. 



i. The intestinal form (also known as Anguillula intestinalis) is 

 represented only by females. These are about 1/12 of an inch long 

 and reproduce parthenogenetically. The embryos escape from the 

 eggs while still in the intestine, so that in the faeces we only find actively 

 motile embryos. The eggs, which are strung out in a chain, never 

 appear in the faeces except during purgation. As they greatly re- 

 semble hook-worm eggs, this is a point of great practical importance. 

 In fresh faeces we find hook-worm eggs and Strongyloides embryos. 

 If the temperature is low, these rhabditiform embryos develop into 

 filariform embryos, which being ingested form the infecting stage. 

 If the temperature is warm, 25 to 35 C., these embryos develop into: 



(2) The free living form. In this we have males and females; 

 these copulate and we have produced rhabditiform larvae, which later 

 change to filariform ones. These being ingested, start up the parasiti- 

 cal generation. The embryos are rather common in stools in the 

 tropics. These embryos have pointed tails and are about 250 x i3/. 

 They have a double cesophageal bulb. 



This family is of the greatest importance to man. It is also one 

 about which much confusion exists.as to the adult type; hence anyone 

 finding adult filariae should fix them in hot 5% glycerin alcohol (alcohol 

 70%), and subsequently mount in glycerin gelatin. Formalin is not 

 to be used. These worms are most likely to be seen as writhing thread- 

 like worms, especially in the lymphatic glands and connective tissue, 

 about body cavities. 



Fil'a'f ift medinensis. The Guinea or Medina worm, of which 

 until recently only the female was known, is of great importance in 

 parts of India, Africa and Arabia. The female is a thread-like worm, 

 about 20 to 30^ inches long. The habitat is the subcutaneous and 



