140 ANIMAL PARASITES IN THE STOMACH 



Echinorhynchus Gigas (Thorn-headed Worm). — Echinor- 

 hynchus gigas is a long, round, white worm varying, depend- 

 ing on sex, from 6 to 35 cm. in length, which inhabits the 

 intestines of swine. The head of this parasite is armed with 

 several rows of strong hooks. 



Life History. — This parasite lives in its larval form encysted 

 in the abdominal cavity of the grub of the May bug. Even 

 adult May bugs may contain them. Hogs which run on 

 woodland pastures, old manure piles, or clover fields, where 

 the May bugs abound, feed on the grub or the adult bugs. 

 In the bowels of the hog the larvse attain maturity and 

 fasten themselves by means of their hooks to the mucosa 

 of the intestinal wall. In the small intestines the adult worm 

 can produce local inflammation, sometimes eve,n perforation 

 with peritonitis. The patients show symptoms of colic by 

 grunting, restlessness, snapping toward the abdomen, or 

 even other animals. Occasionally in young pigs epileptiform 

 convulsions are produced, which are generally fatal. 



Diagnosis. — A diagnosis can be made only by an examina- 

 tion of the feces for the eggs of the parasite. When a number 

 of pigs are sick with symptoms of colic, convulsions, etc., a 

 necropsy will reveal the existence of the worm. 



Treatment. — Treatment is not very successful, as the 

 worms are hard to dislodge. One of the best agents is oil of 

 turpentine (3ij)- 



Prevention. — Prevention consists in keeping swine out of 

 woods pastures, manure piles, etc., and the destruction of 

 the May bug and its grub. 



Oxyuris Curvula (Whip-worm). — This parasite is found 

 living in the large intestine of the horse. Frequently, how- 

 ever, it is found in the rectum, where it causes irritation and 

 proctitis, inducing the patient to rub the root of the tail and 

 buttocks. Quite often, as a result of the catarrhal inflam- 

 mation of the rectum, a layer of white to yellowish dried 

 exudate is found about the anus and perineum. 



Treatment. — The treatment consists in giving clysters of 

 linseed oil or vinegar. Bichlorid of mercury, 1 to 2000 in 

 small quantities (Oj), is also useful. Large doses have 

 produced mercurialism. 



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