28 Georgia State College of Agriculture 



done is along the line of prevention of infestation as recommended 

 above. 



Liver Flukes (Fasciola hepatica). 



These parasites are occasionally found infesting hogs, but are 

 seldom of any practical importance in this species of animal. For 

 description see the article on liver flukes of cattle. 



Lung Worms (Strongylus paradoxus), Metastrongylus apri). 



These are very common parasites of hogs in the Southern States 

 as well as other parts of the United States. It is perhaps the most 

 common parasite of farm animals. Lung worms are thread-like 

 worms varying in length from % to 1 finches and are found infest- 

 ing the air passages of the lungs and the lung substance at the 

 apex of the lung. If present at all, they will be found in the very 

 posterior portion. Their presence causes chronic irritation and 

 cough, loss of condition in young pigs and shoats and sometimes 

 results in death in young animals. In adults it is seldom that 

 symptoms of infestation are observable. 



Life History. The complete life history of this parasite is not 

 known but it is believed that the microscopic eggs of the parasites 

 are coughed out with mucus from the air passages and that ani- 

 mals become infested by inhaling the eggs along with dust par- 

 ticles. 



Treatment. Preventive treatment is much more valuable than 

 curative treatment. In order to prevent infestation sanitary pre- 

 cautions must be taken continuously. The hog lots must be well 

 drained, the food and water supply must be free from contamina- 

 tion, the houses must be kept free of dust and the nests must be 

 renewed frequently. 



Medicinal treatment of lung worm infestation in hogs is difficult 

 and unsatisfactory. The treatments usually recommended are as 

 bad as the disease. Where they can be administered without too 

 much trouble, inhalations of the fumes of turpentine or pine tar 

 may be of some value but, in general, the swine owner will have 

 to depend upon good care and proper and liberal feeding to carry 

 his pigs and shoats past the age when infestation does serious dam- 

 age. 



Muscle Worms, Trichina (Trichina spiralis). 



Trichina spiralis is the muscle worm of the hog. It also infests 

 the muscles of people and rats. It is transmitted to hogs through 

 the animals eating the flesh of infested hogs or rats. Rats be- 

 come infested through the same means. People become infested 

 through consuming pork not thoroughly cooked. There is no 

 thoroughly efficient method of inspecting pork so as to guarantee 

 its entire freedom from these parasites; hence, thorough cooking 

 at a sufficiently high temperature is necessary in order to avoid 

 the danger of infestation. The full grown parasite is about one- 



