﻿IX, B, 3 Boynton: Kidney-worm Infestation of Sivine 271 



of four months and nineteen days, 6 Berkshire sows died, and 

 all showed marked lesions of kidney-worm infestation, which 

 was undoubtedly the cause of their death. 



The animals were placed under the best sanitary conditions, 

 being housed and kept on cement floors which were washed 

 daily. The refuse was carried away through a sewer. Each 

 compartment had a small runway for the animals to get out 

 on the ground. They were not crowded, for very seldom over 

 5 or 6 animals were kept in the same pen at one time. None 

 but the boar came in contact with native pigs. Shortly before 

 a sow was ready to give birth to young, she was placed in a pen 

 alone and kept there until the litter was old enough to wean. 

 The only time during which a large number of pigs were together 

 was after they were weaned. Those of nearly the same age 

 were placed in a large pen by themselves. When they reached 

 about 5 months of age, the animals to be kept for breeding pur- 

 poses were taken out and the rest were disposed of. 



SYMPTOMS 



The first noticeable symptom is a stiffness of the movements 

 of the animal as if it were suffering from muscular pains. This 

 is especially perceptible in the hind limbs. As the disease pro- 

 gresses, the animal becomes lame and weak in the loins. During 

 this stage, it lies down most of the time and does not rise to its 

 feet unless urged. In some cases the animal loses partial or 

 complete control of the hind quarters a few days before death. 

 There is tenderness over the kidneys, as wincing occurs when 

 pressure is brought upon these regions. The animal usually 

 eats fairly well up to within a few days of death, when it refuses 

 food entirely. Emaciation is generally observed, but the reverse 

 was noticed in 2 animals which were in good condition at the 

 time of death. Ascites was present in 3 of the 6 cases examined. 



LOCATION OF THE WORMS 



In the 6 animals examined, worms were observed in the follow- 

 ing locatiens: Both free upon and deep in the fat surrounding 

 the kidney, in the ureters, in the pelvis of the kidney (Plate 

 I, fig. 4, c), and deep in the cortex and medulla of the kidney 

 (Plate I, fig. 4, d) ; free in the peritoneal cavity, and often 

 penetrating the peritoneum; free on the surface of the liver, 

 embedded in the connective tissue around the large blood vessels 

 of that organ, and in the liver tissue, either in accumulations or 

 slightly embedded under the capsule, and deep in both portal 



