60 BULLETIN 1089, U. S. DEPARTMEN-T OF AGEICULTURE. 



ROUNDWORMS IN THE STOMACH AND INTESTINES (OSTERTAGIA AND 



NEMATODIRUS) . 





It is believed that roimdTrorms are responsible in a large measure 

 for unthriftiness in 3'oung reindeer. Anemic fawns have been exam- 

 ined where no other parasites or disease could be held responsible 

 for their lack of condition. The worms are small, the Ostertagia in 

 the stomach being as fine as hair, but sometimes occurring in suck: 

 numbers as to give the lining of the fourth stomach a reddish appear- 

 ance. The Nematodirus worms in the intestine are larger and belong , - 

 to two different undescribed species. They have been found in a: I'll 

 number of cases in young reindeer, sometimes occurring in large ' T 

 numbers. These intestinal roundworms have a direct life history;' ian 

 the eggs are passed out with the feces and hatch upon the ground, fpi 

 and the larvae are then picked up by reindeer. Close and frequent - 

 grazing over the same ground will predispose animals to becoming, 

 heavily infested by these parasites. .fcii 



PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF WORMS. 



No attempts at the drug treatment of reindeer for worms have 

 yet been made. Prevention, however, has been essayed in a small muni 

 way on reindeer allotments. If reindeer owners follow the recom- ilni 

 mendations made in the fore part of this bulletin about rotation andjama 

 open grazing, they will materially cut down the losses from worms. ixo-w 

 The following examples serve to show how proper range manage- jasti 

 ment may prevent losses and improve the condition of a herd: iTtlioi 



During the winter of 1920-21 definite proof through post mortemshftt 

 was obtained that a small herd of about 1.400 reindeer was heavilyiorms 

 infested with a variety of parasites. The native owner reported thatjtjiato 

 during the previous summer he had lost 100 fawns from sickness, i- 

 The parasites which were found in his animals included three kinds !£:,.,, 

 of tapeworms, cysts derived from dogs, and several species of round-lstatr 

 worms. The owner was advised to treat his herd dogs for then^ 

 removal of tapeworms. He was also told that his animals mustli;;,, 

 have been grazing for too long a period over the same area. Thisjfiiieti 

 he admitted to be the case, and stated that when he first came to hishive, 

 allotment his deer were much admired for their size and condition. )t^r^J^ 

 He had remained on the allotment for the past eight years, butiH^-iD 

 during the last four seasons he had noticed that his animals were^;i;jiij 

 losing in condition year by year and his losses had reached a point 

 where they were causing him grave concern. He was advised to find 

 new grazing ground during the following summer and to keep his 

 animals moving, so that they would not remain over two weeks onj,. 

 a given area. The herd was reinspected during the latter part of 

 September, 1921, and it was gratifying to note that the animals had 5^, 



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