Gastric Parasites in the Cat. 261 



The mature female is i mm. in length ; the male somewhat 

 smaller. The larval trichina, for which alone it may be mistaken, 

 is 0.8 to I mm. in length. 



The mature ollulanus living in the substance of the mucosa 

 produces effects corresponding to the number of worms. If few 

 there may be minute red nodules only. If abundant there may 

 be general or extensive congestion, ecchymosis and softening, 

 with desquamation of the epithelium and catarrhal di-scharge. 

 Beside the mature worms are found large embryos which have 

 not yet migrated from their place of birth. The worm is ovovivi- 

 parous. 



The embryos escape from the mucosa into the inte-stinal canal 

 so that they are found in large numbers in the contents of the 

 bowels and in the faeces. Others migrate inward and invade the 

 diaphragm, liver, lungs, pleurae, and the muscles generally in 

 which they form cysts resembling those of the trichina, .15 to .20 

 mm. in length. These cysts have thick dense walls, and each 

 contains one or several embryos rolled up on themselves. In the 

 lungs they are embedded in minute areas of hepatization, and 

 may be readily mistaken for miliary tubercles, and when very 

 numerous, dangerous and fatal pneumonias may ensue. In bad 

 cases the embryos may often be detected in the bronchial mucus. 



As in the case of trichinae, the encysting of the worm in the 

 solid organs, puts an end to its migrations and limits development 

 to the asexual stage. To reach maturity its host must be de- 

 voured by another appropriate host, in the gastric mucosa of 

 which it may burrow and advance to its full development. The 

 natural cycle of development would seem to be : first {immature') 

 in the stomach, bowels and solid organs of the mouse and rat : 

 and second (mature) in the stomach of the cat and immature in 

 the bowels, and solid organs of the cat which feeds on the infested 

 rodent. The rodents may get infested from the manure of the 

 suffering cat or from water that has washed from it, and also 

 from the fasces and flesh of each other. 



Treatment must be mainly directed to the destruction and ex- 

 pulsion of the embryo worms that may be free in the intestinal 

 tract, and for this the usual vermifuges and purgatives may be 

 employed. The destruction of rats and mice will also go some 

 way toward keeping cats free from invasion. Yet the cat may 



