Gamasidce. Poultry Acariasis. 1 45 



Treatment. They can be made to vacate the external meatus by 

 filling it with olive or other bland oil, and should be intercepted 

 and crushed as they emerge. Megnin believes that this parasite 

 did great damage to the French army horses in Mexico during 

 the reign of Maximillian. 



Ornithodorus Turicata. Mexican or Central American 

 Mite. Carrapata. This is common in Central America, 

 Mexico, and Columbia, attacking the axilla or groin of pigs and 

 other domestic animals and not even respecting man. Pigs put 

 into infested pens may perish in a single night, death being pre- 

 ceded by general weakness and loss of control over the limbs. 

 An areola of swelling and ecchymotic effusion surrounds each 

 puncture to the distance of one or two inches. The bites in man 

 often cause serious lesions. Hens eating the argas, for but a 

 single day, become dull, lose appetite, and perish in three days 

 (Megnin). 



Ornithodorus Egyptius (Savignyi). This is common in 

 Egypt and Northern Africa. It is a very large tick the unfe- 

 cundated female being 9 mm. and the fecundated as much as 

 25 mm. (i inch) in length. It is characterized by the presence 

 of three hooks on each chelicer (mandible) and by three rows of 

 recurved teeth on the barb, in place of four as in Bobphilus An- 

 nulatus. According to Neumann it is the giant tick of Senegal 

 and Guadaloupe. It attacks horses, mules and cattle producing 

 a local infectious disease known as ''farcy'' (Nocard). This is 

 another example like as in Texas Fever and I,ouping-ill of the 

 conveyance of infection by ticks. . (See Farcy in Cattle). 



GAMASID^. POULTRY ACARIASIS. 



Free filiform palpi ; abundant in fodders : Gamasus Pleroptoides : In fur 

 of small rodents ; harmless. G. Auris : In external auditory canal of ox. 

 Dermanyssus Gallinae : D. Avium : Flattened, piriform, broadest behind. 

 Habitat : hen and pigeon manure, cracks in woodwork, or masonry. Noc- 

 turnal attacks on birds, mammals, man — Poultry Acariasis. Itching, rub- 

 bing, scratching, pecking, biting, depilation, abrasion, excoriation, scab- 

 bing, anaemia, loss of weight ; in nasal chambers, cause catarrh ; in meatus, 

 otorrhcEa. D. Hirundinis : Double the size of D. Gallinae. Treatment : 

 Clean away manure, scald, whitewash, carbon bisulphide, creolin, oil of tar, 

 etc. ; dust baths with lime, sulphur, insect powder, snuff, etc. In acariasis 

 of nose or ear, olive oil. 

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