FILARIID.E 



247 



The mouth has two lateral and four smaller submedian papillae. On 

 the anterior 1 to 3 mm. of the body are rounded or oval cuticular tuber- 

 cles arranged more or less regularly in rows. The tail of the male is 

 rolled up and has two asymmetrical wings and two spicules. The vulva 

 of the female is situated in front of the anus. 



Length of female, 8-14 cm. (3 1/8-5 1/2 inches) ; male, 3-5 cm. (1 1/4 

 2 inches). 



The eggs are oval. Embryonal development is within the body of 

 the female. 



Occurrence. — This is a common species found in a large percentage 



Fig. 128. — Gongylonema scutata: a, anterior portion of body, 

 dorsal view; b, posterior extremity of female; c, posterior ex- 

 tremity of male, ventral view; d, same viewed obliquely from 

 left side, — all enlarged (after Ransom, from Neumann, Bull. 

 No. 127, Bureau An. Ind., U. S. Dept. Agr.). 



of sheep and cattle slaughtered in the abattoirs of this country and 

 Europe. It has also been observed in the horse and in the mouth and 

 pharynx of pigs. It inhabits the mucosa of the esophagus, usually in the 

 -thoracic portion where it is lodged just beneath the epithelium. Its body 

 xuns parallel to the long axis of the organ and is disposed in a spiral man- 

 ner, giving somewhat the appearance of the wool-fiber of a merino sheep. 

 There is no apparent effect upon the health of animals harboring this 

 worm. Its only economic importance seems to be in rendering the 

 •esophagus undesirable for use in meat food products. 



