262 PARASITES OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



When freed from the eggs the embryos measure 300-360 microns in 

 length by 13 microns in thickness. 



The worm lives in the right heart and ramifications of the pulmonary 

 artery of the dog. 



Cardio-pulmonary strongylosis of the dog is due to the presence of 

 these parasites, together with their eggs and embryos, in the right 

 ventricle of the heart and small ramifications of the pulmonary 

 artery. 



Symptoms. — Symptoms in this form of strongylosis of the dog are 

 obscure, and generally the disease is not recognized until post-mortem 

 examination of the animal. Respiratory disturbances occur in some 

 cases, and there may be the development of ascites. The attacks of 

 respiratory difficulty may disappear after a few days, or they may lead 

 to asphyxia and the death of the animal. 



For Post-mortem appearance, refer to page 263. 



Pulmonary Strongylosis of the Cat 



Synthetocaulus abstrusus (Strongylus pusillus). Metastrongylinse 

 (p. 256). — The body is filiform and the mouth is without papillae. The 

 bursa of the male is short and sKghtly festooned. The spicules are slen- 

 der, long and recurved. The caudal extremity of the female terminates 

 in a blunt point; vulva immediately in front of the anus. 



Length of female, about 10 mm. (3/8 of an inch) ; male about 5 mm. 

 (3/16 of an inch). 



The eggs are oval or subglobular, 60-85 microns in length by 35-80 

 microns in breadth. Segmentation occurs after they are deposited. 



The liberated embryos are 370^50 microns in length by 16-18 

 microns in diameter. 



The worm is parasitic in the lungs of the cat. 



Symptoms. — Verminous pneumonia of cats produced by the ova and 

 embryos of this worm not infequently occurs without symptoms by 

 which it may be recognized. On the other hand, the animals may have 

 a frequent cough accompanied by vomiting. Where emaciation and 

 diarrhea follow upon such symptoms, death will usually result after a 

 course of two to three months. 



PosT-MoETEM Appearance in Bronchial and Pulmonary 

 Strongylosis 



Animals which have died as a result of strongyles in the respiratory 

 passages will, upon necropsy, show an abundant collection of mucoid 

 and mucopurulent material in the bronchial tubes which is frequently 

 streaked with blood and contains the adult worms, ova, and embryos. 



