PARASITIC DISEASES l8l 



urine and pass out with it. Moist surroundings 

 seem to be necessary for the development of the 

 embryos. The probable method of infection is 

 through the food supply. The well-developed em- 

 bryos reach the intestines along with the food, and 

 finally pass from here to the region of the kidneys, 

 where they find the conditions favorable for de- 

 velopment. 



Symptoms. — The kidney worm does not produce 

 characteristic symptoms of disease, and we are un- 

 able to diagnose its presence in the living animal, 

 unless it is possible to find the eggs of the parasite 

 on making an examination of the urine. Some 

 swine breeders believe that a weak back and 

 paralysis of the hind parts are symptoms of this 

 disease, and a few years ago the kidney worm was 

 claimed by some to cause hog cholera. There is 

 nothing to prove the above statements, and the 

 presence of the worm under such conditions is only 

 a coincidence. Paralysis in hogs is not produced 

 by this parasite, as has been proven by numerous 

 post mortem examinations. 



The irritation to the walls of the pelvis and ureter 

 is sometimes sufficient to cause an inflammation of 

 the parts, but in hogs so diseased, no noticeable 

 symptoms of kidney trouble develop. The tissue 

 in the region of the cysts and canals is replaced 

 largely by inflammatory tissue. Small pus centers 

 are often noted. Large abscesses may also occur, 

 but the latter lesion is quite common when no kid- 

 ney worms are present. 



