PARASITES OF THE ALIMENTARY TRACT 77 
This worm lives coiled up in nodules in the mucous 
membrane. 
Strongylus Gracilis affects cattle, sheep, horses, and 
pigs. It is dull white in colour. It possesses a tapered 
anterior extremity, like Strongylus filicollis, but is 
smaller. 
The female is only 3 to 4 millimetres in length. 
Symptoms.—Parasitic gastro-enteritis is more often 
seen in young animals, such as yearling cattle and 
lambs, especially when a wet winter follows a dry 
summer. It is characterized by progressive emaciation, 
diarrhoea, and anemia. 
Young cattle affected show all the symptoms of 
catarrhal gastritis and enteritis. Diarrhoea is a marked 
symptom, and wasting is very rapid. The feces are 
watery, black, and foetid. The animals refuse food, but 
exhibit great thirst, and show signs of stomach irritation, 
such as licking sand or soil. The temperature is elevated, 
and 105° or even 108° F. is by no means uncommon. 
The cattle appear tucked up and hidebound, and the 
mucous membranes are pale and anemic. Finally, the 
temperature becomes subnormal, and death takes place 
from exhaustion. 
The course of the disease is usually from one to 
three weeks, but may be only from one to three 
days. 
In sheep the disease presents similar symptoms, but 
the mortality is even greater. 
It is extremely common to find husk present at the 
same time. 
Lesions.—On post-mortem examination, the mucous 
membranes of the abomasum and small intestine are 
found in a condition of catarrhal inflammation. Ulcera- 
tion may be present, or the mucous membrane may be 
easily removed by slight friction. A submucous gela- 
tinous exudate is commonly present. 
