POULTRY DISEASES 
13 
Figure 15.—The gizzard worm, Spiroptera liamulosa, natural size; a, female; 
i, male. 
Figure 16.— Syngamus trachealis (gape worm), attached to the mucous mem- 
rane (inner lining) of the trachea; natural size; a, mucous membrane; b, male; 
, female. 
THE GAPE WORM OR FORKED WORM, (Syngamus trachealis) 
DESCRIPTION.—The male is very small as compared with the female, 
hgure 16 illustrates these worms as always found; B, the male; C, the fe- 
aale; and A, the mucous membrane to which they are attached. It will be 
toted that the male is scarcely one-half inch in length while the female is 
ne inch and sometimes a trifle longer. The mouth parts are surrounded by 
. capsular arrangement with which to hold firmly to the mucous membrane 
f the trachea (wind pipe). These worms wound the mucous membrane and 
uck blood. 
LIFE HISTORY.—The female produces eggs, which escape from her 
ody only after the parent worm is expelled from the bird and the body de- 
omposed. The embryos thus escaping from the decomposing female live in 
he earth, water, or earthworms. Thus, chicks drinking contaminated water 
r eating infested earth worms in turn become infested, or if the chick should 
ick up an expelled female containing the mature eggs, the embryos would 
e liberated in the stomach of the chick, in which case they migrate to the air 
assages and grow to maturity. 
CONDITION PRODUCED.—Wild as well as tame birds may become in- 
ested by the gape worm. Our trouble is usually with young chicks and 
urkeys. The small immature gape worms or eggs containing the embryos 
iind their way to the intestinal tract of the young bird as indicated above, 
.nd finding their way to the trachea (wind pipe) and its branches, attach 
hemselves, and by growing in size gradually obstruct the passage of air to 
he lungs. As a result, the bird finds breathing difficult, and after a while 
asps for air, extending its head into the air, and finally dies. Usually a 
ump can be found by feeling along the trachea. 
TREATMENT.—Hatch chicks by incubator and do not allow them to run 
ut in the wet grass where they may find infested earth worms or contam- 
aated water. Feed from clean containers, constructed for the purpose. 
By grasping the bird in the left hand and forcing its mouth open, a 
oubled horse hair may be forced down the trachea. Twisting, and again 
withdrawing, usually dislodges the worms. Gentle pressure over the region 
f the mass may so injure the worms as to cause them to let loose their hold 
nd be expelled by the chick sneezing. Care must be exercised lest the 
rachea be injured. A feather, from which ah the barbs except the tip have 
een removed, dipped in turpentine, forced down the trachea and, when the 
ip is past the mass of worms, twisted as it is pulled out usually removes them, 
ty referring to Fig. 1, No. 34, the location of the opening of the trachea 
tirough the larynx may be seen. 
