ASCARID^ 241 



worms in mass with the usual sequence of localized inflammatory- 

 changes. 



Invasion of the bile duct of pigs with these ascarids is of frequent 

 occurrence and maj"- often bring about a fatal result. Autopsies at the 

 Pennsylvania State Laboratories upon pigs dead from this parasitism 

 have in some cases revealed the common bile duct literally packed and 

 occluded with the worms. 



Treatment. — Treatment is mainly prophylactic. Thorough clean- 

 ing up, burning of litter, and a liberal application of disinfectants is 

 essential, and the source of water supply and drainage should be looked 

 to. Infested pigs should be isolated and precautions taken against 

 reinfection. 



Medicine is best administered in milk, or other semi-fluid media, fed 

 to the pigs as a whole, the dosing of individual pigs being a somewhat 

 discouraging task. It is better to separate the pigs for this purpose into 

 groups of not more than ten of nearly equal size, otherwise the largest 

 and most aggressive will get more than their portion. 



As a vermifuge, pulverized areca nut may be used, the dose being 

 approximately one grain to each pound of body-weight. This should 

 be followed by a purgative, preferably saline, the dose graded according 

 to size of pigs, and administered as above. Benzene, in one to three 

 dram doses mixed with the food, has been recommended as effective. 



When individual treatment of young pigs is resorted to, one to five 

 grains of calomel, given in milk and followed by castor oil, will in many 

 cases be suflficient to dislodge the worms. For older pigs it is better to 

 follow the calomel with a saline evacuant. 



Ascariasis of Sheep. — Ascarids are rarely found in sheep. In the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry Collection there are specimens of ascarids 

 obtained from sheep at Blairsville, Pa., Brookings, South Dakota, and 

 Bethesda, Md. (Bulletin 127, 1911.) 



AscaridjB of the Ox 



Ascaris vitulorum. Ascaridse (p. 229). — The head is small and has 

 three lips which are somewhat enlarged at the base. The body is white 

 or may be reddish white. The caudal extremity of the male has two 

 rows of papillae, 10-15 in each; these are lateral and pre-anal. The vulva 

 of the female is situated toward the anterior sixth of the body. 



Length of female, 22-30 cm. (8 1/2-11 3/4 inches) ; male, 15-20 cm. (6- 

 7 3/4 inches). 



Eggs, 75-80 microns in diameter. 



Lives in the intestine of calves; rare in adult cattle. 



This worm is most frequently met with in parts of Southern Europe, 

 where it is found in rather large numbers in the small intestine of calves 

 slaughtered for veal. 



