76 THE I^NIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 



exar-ined harboured roundworms. Of these 88% were infested 

 with hookworms, Ancylostoma caninum. In other words about 60% 

 of all dogs examined were parasitized with hookworms. The asca- 

 rid, Bc'ascaris marginata, (Ascaris marginata), showed an infesta- 

 tion of 35% with an average of 4 ^Yorm per dog. Toxascaris lim- 

 latc, another ascarid from the dog has not been found in Okla- 

 hoira. We have records of both of these ascarids being reported 

 froi-^ man. THe •"ercentase of afcarid infestation in our do's is 

 rrth"- low compared with the percentage of Hall and Wigdor 

 (P18:733) for Michigan dogs. They found 53% of 300 dogs in- 

 fp ted with Beiascaris marginata, with an average of 25 worms per 

 dog. 



Hall and Wigdor (1918:737) report infestation with the whip- 

 worm, Trichuris depressiuscu'a, from 39% of 300 Michigan dogs. 

 This worm undoubtedly occurs occasionally in the dogs of Okla- 

 homa but as yet we have not found a single record of its occur- 

 rence. DirofVaria iminitis. a nematode found in the blood vessels 

 or the heart of dogs, is fairly common in some parts of the couth 

 but at present we have no record of its occurrence in this state. 

 Sp'rocera (Spiroptera) sanguinolenta, a nematode occurring in 

 nodules or tumors in the oesophagus of dogs, has been reported a 

 number of times from the southern states. We have one record of 

 its occurrence from Sti'lwater, Oklahoma. Dioctophyme renalj 

 has not been reported from Oklahom.a although it is found occasion- 

 a'ly in the kidney and abdominal cavity of dogs of the United 

 States. 



Cats in this part of the rountry seem to have a slightly higher 

 percentage of infestation with roundworms tha ndo our dogs. Of 

 the cuts examined 60% also harboured the as.arid, Beiascaris mys- 

 tax. Cats are rarely afected with other species of nematodes. 



Concluricns 



The above does not record by any means the entire list of 

 parasites that have been found in dogs. It m.erely gives those that 

 have been found, or that mJsht reasonably be expected to be found, 

 in the canines -=>^«^reTines of Oklahoma. It is rather difficult to 

 rfj-^w conclusions from such a small number of autopsies, but 

 ne\ ertheless, it does give us some idea of the nature and prevalence 

 of parasitism, in these animals. 



The foregoing gives us some conception of the necessity for 

 controlling the dog nuisance. The stray, ownerless cur shou'.d be 

 destroyed. Owners of dogs should control their activities by not 

 aiiuwmg them luo n.uch iieeclom and Dy suj^ervismg their diet .o 



