2 BULLETIN 939, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



other series of 115 was examined, and during the month of Novem- 

 ber, 1918, a final series of 178; in all, 679 turkey tracheas were ex- 

 amined. In the case of the chickens practically the entire trachea 

 Avas obtained from each bird, but in the case of the turkeys usually 

 only a portion of the trachea was secured, so that as a rule an exami- 

 nation of the entire trachea could not be made. 



In the first series of turkey tracheas (386 examined in December, 

 1916, and January and February, 1917) gapeworms were found in 

 89, and characteristic lesions marking the former location of gape- 

 worms in 3 others, a total of 92, or 23.8 per cent. In the second series 

 (115 examined in March, 1918) worms were found in 17 and a gape- 

 worm lesion in 1 other, a total of 18, or 15.7 per cent. In the third 

 series (178 examined in November, 1918) worms were found in 43, 

 or 24.2 per cent. The percentage of turkey tracheas infested out of 

 the total number examined was 22.5 per cent. It is possible that the 

 lower percentage observed among the tracheas examined in March as 

 compared with those examined in December, January, and February, 

 and in November following, was the result of having more incomplete 

 specimens of tracheas than were generally secured in the two latter 

 series. In any event, in view of the fact that throughout the three 

 series incomplete tracheas were the rule, it appears quite certain that 

 more cases of infestation would have been found if the entire trachea 

 could always have been secured. It is, therefore, fair to conclude that 

 the percentage of infestation among the turkeys examined was in 

 reality higher than the 22.5 per cent actually found. Counting the 

 gapeworm lesions found without worms attached as representing 

 worms, and counting the paired male and female as a single worm, a 

 single worm was present in 91 cases, 2 worms in 36 cases, 3 worms in 

 14 cases, 4 worms in 6 cases, 5 worms in 3 cases, 7, 9, and 18 worms 

 in 1 case each. 



In view of the complete absence of gapeworms from a large series 

 of adult and approximately adult chickens, and their common occur- 

 rence in a similar series of adult and approximately adult turkeys, 

 all obtained at the same market and at the same season of the year, 

 it would appear that adult chickens are poorly adapted as hosts 

 for gapeworms. Evidently the occurrence of gapeworms in adult 

 chickens in the general locality of Washington, D. C, must be ex- 

 ceedingly rare, though, as is well known, gapeworms are of frequent 

 occurrence in young chicks in this as well as in many other localities. 

 On the other hand, it is evident that not merely young turkeys may 

 harbor gapeworms, but that in the locality mentioned these parasites 

 are very common in adult turkeys. Although, as noted, the ages of 

 the various turkeys from the Washington market were uncertain, 

 many of the turkeys examined were no doubt considerably more than 



