ANIMAL PARASITES IN THE INTESTINES ■ 141 



Uncinariasis {Dochmiasis). — Uncinaria rarely affect cattle, 

 although cases are reported from the States of Florida and 

 Texas, where the disorder produced by them is known as 

 "salt sick," 



life History.^The ova which are found in the feces of 

 infected animals develop into embryos within twenty-four 

 hours under favorable conditions. In water and damp 

 earth they undergo several changes, so that after about one 

 month they are capable of further development in the bowel 

 of a susceptible host. The adult worm varies from 3 to 8 cm. 

 in length and its anterior end is bent in the fo'rm of a hook. 



Natural Infection. — The infection takes place among cattle 

 by drinking water from stagnant pools containing the 

 embryos or from infested low-lying pastures. Obviously, 

 drought, lack of proper food and care, digestive disturbances, 

 etc., which reduce the resistance of an animal, are contrib- 

 uting causes. 



Symptoms. — In general the uncinaria produce symptoms of 

 a gastro-intestinal catarrh leading to anemia, hydremia, and 

 cachexia. One of the first symptoms noted is a morbid 

 desire on the part of the patients to lick objects. The cattle 

 become thin, show diarrhea, often alternating with con- 

 stipation, and bloating. Symptoms of colic are not infre- 

 . quent. Later hydremia develops with edema of the region 

 of the throat, hydrothorax, and ascites. The patients 

 usually die of inanition. 



Diagnosis. — Diagnosis can be made by a microscopic 

 examination of the feces for the ova. Johne's disease is 

 distinguished from it by the character of the diarrhea, 

 which is more watery than in uncinariasis and the presence 

 of acid-fast bacilli in scrapings from the anterior portion 

 of the rectum. 



Treatment. — Treatment is only fairly satisfactory. In- 

 tensive feeding and better care keep up the strength and 

 health of the patient, greatly assisting the cure. Medicinal 

 treatment is the same as for round-worms. 



Prevention. — Keep cattle away from infected pastures, 

 water only from running streams, wells, or good springs, 

 sprinkle the infected manure with lime water, and thoroughly ■ 

 clean and disinfept the stable. 



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