162 ANIMAL PARASITES IN THE STOMACH 



Texas, where the disorder produced by them is known as 

 "salt sick." 



Life History. — ^The ova which are found in the feces of 

 infested animals develop into embryos within twenty-four 

 hours under favorable conditions. In water and damp 

 earth they undergo several changes, so that after about one 

 month they are capable of further development in the 

 bowel of a susceptible host. The adult worm varies from 

 3 to 8 cm. in length and its anterior end is bent in the form 

 of a hook. 



Natural Infection. — The infection takes place among cattle 

 by drinking water from stagnant pools containing the 

 embryos or from infested low-lying pastures. Obviously, 

 drought, lack of proper food and care, digestive disturb- 

 ances, etc., which reduce the resistance of an animal, are 

 contributing causes. 



Symptoms. — In general the uncinaria produce symptoms 

 of a gastro-intestinal catarrh leading to anemia, hydremia, 

 and cachexia. One of the first symptoms noted is a morbid 

 desire on the part of the patients to lick objects. The cattle 

 become thin, show diarrhea, often alternating with consti- 

 pation and bloating. Symptoms of colic are not infrequent. 

 I^ater hydremia develops with edema of the region of the 

 throat, hydrothorax and ascites. The patients usually die 

 of inanition. 



Diagnosis. — Diagnosis can be made by a microscopic 

 examination of the feces for the ova. Johne's disease is 

 distinguished from it by the character of the diarrhea, 

 which is more watery than in uncinariasis and the presence 

 of acid-fast bacilli in scrapings from the anterior portion of 

 the rectum. 



Treatment. — ^Treatment is only fairly satisfactory. Inten- 

 sive feeding and better care keep up the strength and health 

 of the patient, greatly assisting the cure. Medicinal treat- 

 ment is the same as for round worms. 



Prevention. — Keep cattle away from infested pastmes, 

 water only from running streams, wells, or good springs, 

 sprinkle the infested manure with lime water, and thoroughly 

 clean and disinfect the stable. 



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