DISEASES AND PARASITES OF THE OSTRICH 233 
appearance of the typical symptoms in seven days, followed by death 
in about a month. Similar results were obtained with a number of 
other ostriches. The organism injected can be recovered from the 
lesions induced in the duodenum. Robertson regards the symptoms 
as indicative of a poisoning. He holds the opinion that the or- 
ganisms do not invade the general tissues, but remain localized as in 
the case of diphtheria and tetanus. The poison is elaborated by the 
organism in the intestine and carried to the spinal cord and thus 
induces paralysis. 
The organism isolated by Marx was found to be pathogenic for the 
gray mouse, pigeon, and various small birds. Guinea pigs and rab- 
bits were insusceptible. 
Control. The common source of infection is regarded as con- 
taminated food and water. Robertson advises that infected birds be 
killed, and that the birds be shifted to bare veld and fed by hand with 
cut green crops. The continuous breeding of birds on one spot seems 
to be a factor contributing to the occurrence of the disease. 
Treatment. Gray suggests the trial of intestinal disinfection 
with cyllin, beta-naphthol, sodium salicylate, quinine or bismuth. 
WIREWORMS IN OSTRICHES 
The wireworm, a nematode designated Trichostrongylus douglast, 
synonym Strongylus douglasi, is a parasite infesting the mucosa and 
glands of the proventriculus of the ostrich. Adult birds, if well fed 
tolerate the parasite comparatively well but ostrich chicks frequently 
succumb. This parasite occasions great losses in the ostrich farming 
industry of South Africa. 
Comparatively little was known of the life history of the wireworm 
and remedial measures until the publication of the work of Theiler 
and Robertson from which we have drawn largely in discussing the 
problem. 
Life cycle of the wireworm. The parasite undergoes four 
molts corresponding to four different stages. Two stages are en- 
countered in the life cycle outside the host and two inside the host. 
The cycle may thus be divided into a parasitic and a non-parasitic 
period. 
The wireworm in its non-parasitic stages is free living. Its fu- 
ture propagation and dissemination depend upon gaining access to 
the body of an ostrich. This phase of its life history is of great 
practical interest in connection with the application of measures to 
prevent the infection of clean birds. 
