Common Parasites 1 



body of the host. Animals become infested through eating con- 

 taminated food or from grazing on infested pasture. Frequent 

 rotation of pastures for colts, together with proper drainage of all 

 swampy areas and providing animals in pasture with a constant 

 supply of salt, is recommended. 



Treatment for removal. Best results are obtained when worm 

 remedies are given on an empty stomach. Several treatments are 

 recommended. Two or three ounces of turpentine in one quart raw 

 linseed oil may be given as a drench at one dose. Another treat- 

 ment is one-fourth ounce of powdered iron sulphate three times 

 a day for three or four days, to be followed with a purgative dose 

 of raw linseed oil. 



Palisade Worm (Strongylus armatus) (Sclerostomum equinum). 

 This is a blood sucking worm, one to two inches in length, found 

 attached to the lining of the large intestines of the horse. When 

 present in large numbers they cause anemia and symptoms of colic. 



In the larval form they may be found in the walls of large blood 

 vessels and in other locations. In rare instances they are to be 

 found in considerable numbers migrating through the muscular 

 coat of the abdominal wall. Numbers of larvae are also found in 

 cysts attached to the inner surface of the intestines. 



Death of colts or horses is sometimes caused by the ravages of 

 this species of worms. 



The measures recommended above for control, preventive treat- 

 ment and removal also apply to this species of worm. 



Pin Worms (Rectal worms) (Oxyurus curvula). This is a round, 

 white worm, one to three inches in length, and tapering to a fine 

 point at the tail. It is found inhabiting the posterior portion of the 

 large intestines and rectum of the horse and mule. 



The symptoms are indications of itchiness in the region men- 

 tioned; rubbing the base of the tail against posts, trees or stall 

 partitions; seepage of a milky substance from the anus and the 

 discovery of the parasites, or their eggs, in the manure. 



Treatment. Preventive treatment consists in providing plenty of 

 salt at all times, rotation of pastures and drainage of swampy areas 

 and such other measures as may tend to prevent contamination of 

 food and water supply. 



Removal. For removal give an enema of 1 per cent solution of 

 coal tar disinfectant or enema of two drams of ferric chloride in 

 one pint of water. Enemas should be repeated at intervals of three 

 or four days. Internal administration of powdered iron sulphate, 

 as recomrr^-'ied for the large round worm, is also recommended. 



