74 THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 



comprise the list of protozoa from the cats and dogs of this 

 country. 



Trematodes 

 Trematodes are rare in dogs and cats for we have but very 

 few records of their occurrence in the United States. No records 

 of these parasites have been made from Oklahoma dogs. Hall and 

 Wigdor (1918), and Wigdor (1918), reported three species of tre- 

 matodes from Michigan dogs. One species reported by Ward 

 and Hirsch (1915), a report by Ransom (1920), and one from the 

 cat by Riley (1922), comprise the only other records for this group 

 of parasites from dogs and cats in the United States. 



Tapeworms 



Of the dogs examined for parasites 84% have been infested 

 with at least one species of tapeworm. The species most commonly 

 found are Taenia pisiformis (serrata), Dipylidiuvi caninnm and 

 Multlceps serialis, with their frequency in the order named. Taenia 

 pisiformis was found in 53% of the dogs harbouring cestodes. 40% 

 harboured Dipylidium caninnm while Multiceps serialis infested 

 13%. Some of the dogs were parasitized by more than one species 

 of tapeworm. Descriptions of the tapeworms from dogs and cats, 

 with keys for identification, may be found in Hall, 1919. 



Taenia pisiformis occurred in numbers of from one to ten in 

 the autopsies performed by the writer. The intermediate stage of 

 this cestode is in the rabbit, usually the cottontail (Sylvilagus flori- 

 daniis similies). Cysticcrus pisiformis, or larval stage of this tape- 

 worm lives as a rule free in the body cavity or may be attached 

 to the mesentery or liver. This tapeworm has also been reported 

 from the cat. Ackert and Grant (1917:94) mfested kittens by 

 feeding Cysiicercus pisiforimis. Dipylidium caninum was found in 

 numbers ranging from 2 to 50 in the dogs examined. This cestode 

 is transmitted through fleas and lice. The cat may also be infested 

 with this cestode, although the writer has not met with it in cats 

 in Oklahoma. This species has frequently been reported from man, 

 especially from children. Dr. EJ'ison, in discussing a paper of the 

 present writer (Guberlet, 1922:193), reported a case from Okla- 

 homa City wh''^-^ seven Dipylidium caninnm were taken from one 

 child. 



Multiceps serialis usually occurs in rather large numbers when 

 an infestation is found. The smallest number found was 30 speci- 

 mens from one dog while the largest number taken was 355 from a 

 young bull dog. This dog was killed, a suspect oi rabies, which 

 was negative. An examination of the alimentary tract revealed 



