INTERNAL PARASITES 69 



Taenia Infundibuliformis — Tapeworm 



This worm is sometimes called tte Choanotcenia 

 infundibulum and also the Drepa/nidotcenia in- 

 fundibuliformis. 



Description. — This worm varies in length from one and 

 one-half to tliree inches. Fig. 24 illustrates a mature worm. 

 Its head is oval, the neck short and the segments shorter 

 than wide. The head is provided with four sucker-discs 

 and a crown o-f from sixteen to twenty hooklets, which can- 

 not be seen except by microscopic examination. The anterior 

 border of the segments is a trifle shorter than the posterior 

 border, giving the border of the worm a serrated aspect. 

 The male and the female genital pores irregularly alternate. 



Life History. — The eggs passing out to the ground are 

 taken up by the intermediate host, which, according to Grassi," 

 is the earth worm. Rovelli claims to have found the larval 

 or cystic stage in the house-fly. 



Symptoms of Infestation. — If a bird be infested 

 by large numbers of tapeworms it is robbed of 

 much food, as related above, and 

 it becomes unthrifty, shows an 

 unkempt appearance of the 

 feathers and possibly a loss of 

 flesh. As a result of the irrita- 

 tion produced by these parasites 

 there is a loss of appetite, de- 

 rangement of digestion, catarrhal ^^^ ^^ .j.^^^^ j^. 



condition of the bowel and ^"naJuS'^s'izeT' 

 loss in egg production. Birds a. Head. 



n , • ,1 I, B, segmented body. 



five to SIX months or age may 

 harbor adult tapeworms. This tapeworm often 

 causes the death of the infested bird. In the later 

 stages of infestation the bird appears dull and a 

 complete loss of appetite is noted. 



Treatment. — Grive thirty grains of epsom salt 

 dissolved in warm water ; follow with two or three 

 teaspoonfuls of turpentine. A few teaspoonfuls 

 of a decoction of pumpkin seeds usually rids the 



