Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-19
TApE-woRMs IN sHEEp.


Over eighty-fivs per cent. Of the
sheep examined in Colorado last sum-
mer, according to q report made by
DIR. Cooper Curtice to the Biological
Society at recent meeting, were in
ficted by tape-worm which is appar-
emily indigenous to the Western country.
Similar parasites had been described
in 1856 by DR.. K. NJ. blessing from
specimens obtained by Natesen from
Brazilian deer; but since that time the
species was apparently unnoticed.
his species is interesting. first, on ac-
count OF its peculiar anatomy and the
life-history of the individual parasite;
second, because of the history of this
species. which indicates it to be the
first acquisition of a native parasite by
the sheep on this continent, and its
subsequent distribution in the United
States; and, third, from an economic
standpoint, the discussion of it includ-
ing consideration of the disease pro-
duced in sheep-the actual loss in
death-rate, in wool and mutton, due to
the parasite-and of the problem Of
cure and prevention of the disease.
After describing the parasite DR..
Curtice said that these tania occur in
the duOdenum and gall-ducts of West
ern lambs and sheep. They sometimes
Gil each. So tightly do they pack the
gall-ducts at times that they can not be
withdrawn without ubreaking them,
and the duct itself is distended by them.
The smaller tsenia. about half cent?
meter long. are always found in the
duodenum. They may be found from
May to January; no observations were
made in the winter months. From the
duodenum they pass into the gall-duct.
and occasionally into the pancreatic
duct. The tenia are usually found in
assorted sizes, from the young to the
adult, but all may be nearly equal in
size. From the observations made
upon a great number of lambs, it
seems that these parasites can not ma
ture in less than six. or possibly ten
months; so that the t9nia in lambs
would not be capable of injecting other
lambs until the former became year.
lings. No stages intermediate between
the embryo escaping from the parent
segment and the t@nia five millime-
tiers long were found.
As this species has not been described
$~> hno - v,otSna1 in
Eastern United States. it seems to have
been acquired by the sheep since their
importation into this country. Span
ish sheep were first imported about
1920. From the early importation of
sheep into Mexico and Lower California
arose those immense herds of mission
sheep, and eventually the millions of
sheep now found in the West. These
sheep are rapidly being interbred with
better grades of Eastern sheep: but the
Mexican sheep furnished the material
with which the sheep men of the plains
began. The history of the acquisition
and distribution of this parasite is be-
ieved, then, to be coincident with the
history of these sheep since their ar
rival in this country. This parasite,
originally affecting deer on this conti-
nent, is believed by DR.. Curtice to have
become migrated into sheep, animals
with similar life-habits. and, through
the favorable conditions of ranching,
to have spread rapidly with the in
crease of the flocks. Its distribution
is now from Oregon and Wyoming
southwark, and Nebraska and Kansas
westward.
The disease they cause in sheep
makes its appearance gradually, and
increases as the parasites grow. 1t is
characterized by hide-bound, tucked
up condition of the lambs, which is
indicative of lean, ill-conditioned ami
mails. Sheep may be apparently strong
and healthy, and still harbor num-
Der of these parasites. The poorer
lambs generally die from exposure to
inclement weather. or from smother
ing by piling on top of each other in
storms in their endeavors to keep
warm. The actual loss by death
among the lambs is probably the least
portion of it; that occasioned by the
diminished amount of fat, muscle and
wool, which, though small for each
animal, is constantly present from year
to year, forms the larger, and aggre-
gates . total loss to the sheep-hus-
bandry Of the plains which is proba-
bly, greater than that due to the scab-
insect.
As vet no effective medicinal remedy
for the destruction Of these parasites
has been discovered. Something may
be done in the way Of prevention; but,
until the complete life-history Of the
tenia is known, an entirely satisfactory
plan of prevention can not be pro-
posed. At present. watering from
troughs instead of from prairie pools,
pasturing the lambs on prairie not re-
Gently pastured on by older sheep. and.
after weaving. removing them to fresh
pastures, are recommended. The prac-