96 DISEASES OF CATS 



ducing if at all numerous digestive disturb- 

 ances, indicated by vomiting, diarrhea or con- 

 stipation, capricious appetite, anemia, and very 

 often epileptiform convulsions. In extreme 

 cases, the whole of the digestive tract may be 

 blocked up with masses of coiled up and inter- 

 woven parasites. The above symptoms, in ad- 

 dition to the discovery of the parasites or their 

 ova in the feces, the pot-bellied appearance of 

 the animal and the doughy feel of the abdomen 

 on palpation, confirm the diagnosis. 



Cestodes. — The cestodes infesting the cat are 

 the Taenia crassicoUis, Dipylidium felis and 

 Mesocestoides litteratus. The intermediate 

 stage of the T. crassicoUis is passed in the liver 

 of rodents; the larval form is known as the 

 Cysticercus fasciolaris. The intermediate host 

 of the Dipylidium felis, the cat louse, or Tri- 

 chodectes subrostratus, the larval form being 

 the Cryptocystis subrostratus. 



The tapeworm Bothriocephalus latus is 

 also occasionally found, the intermediate host 

 being a fish such as pike or perch. The symp- 

 toms produced are an unthrifty condition, with 

 disorders of the digestive apparatus, sometimes 

 nervous manifestations such as convulsions and 

 fits. Their presence is definitely established by 

 the discovery of segments or ova in the feces. 



Other Intestinal Parasites. — The only other 

 important parasites are the Ankylostomum f e- 



