Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-24
TAPE WORM DISEASE OF FOWLS

The Maryland experiment station has
just issued a valuable bulletin on this
subject from which we make the fol-
lowing excerpts:
The spread of disease among domestic
poultry is a great drawback to the
poultry industry of the United States.
Perhaps this has never been more no
ticeable than within the last two
months, when an outbreak of Nodular
Taeniasis, or tape-worm disease, oc-
CURED in one flock at this station.
Hence it was considered of timely in
terest to the farmer and poultryman to
know the cause, the life history of the
parasite, and the treatment which was
found most effective. After a careful
consideration of the outbreak at this
station, it was concluded that 1t was
typical of the trouble which had been
reported from time to time in other
parts of the state. An autopsy was
performed when one of the affected
fowls died All the internal organs ap-
peared normal except the intestines,
which were filled with gas and exhibit
ed nodular or pea-shaped growths
along the outer walls. When these
were opened up several tape-Worms
were found. In two other cases worms
were found by the hundreds; in one
half inch of the intestines more than
fifty worms were counted. This nodu-
lar affection of the intestines might be
mistaken for tuberculosis, but in all
cases attached worms we're readily de-
tected by inverting the intestinal track.
The life history of very few forms of
tape-worms is definitely known, but 1t
is conceded that the infestation Is
transmitted through an intermediary
host. The worms have no digestive
system, but soft liquid nourishment is
derived from the material within the
digestive canal of the host. The tape
or fiat band is made up of segments,
each of which contains vital organs.
The segments drop off one by one and
reach the exterior in the droppings. In
each egg an embryo is present consist
ing of a round mass of cells bearing
hooks. AS soon as the egg has been
discharged it has to reach the intes-
final canal of a second kind of animal
which is the intermediate host. In the
case of poultry this may be true
worm, snail, crustacean, or an insect.
In this intermediate host it develops
into a larval form; in turn this larVa
develops into an adult worm when
swallowed by chicken.
Symptoms-The sick bird becomes
emaciated. During the course of the
disease at this station it was noted
that the droppings in nearly every case
contained considerable yellow mucous
In this material may be found the tape
worm segments.
Treatment-The first rule to be car
ried out in all cases of this disease is
to isolate the birds from the rest of
the flock. The droppings should be de-
stroyed, or If the manure is to be used
for fertilizer, it should be treated with
a disinfectant to kill the eggs of the
tape-worm. The chief drugs used for
tape-worm infestation are extract of
male fern, turpentine, powdered kama
la, areca nut, pomegranate root bark
pumpkin seed and sulphate of copper.
According to Zurn, powdered areca nut
is the best tape-worm remedy for fowls.
He advises the administration of the
drug in doses of 30 to 45 grains mixed
with butter and made into pills. Al
the station Epson salts and turpentine
have proved to be the most effective
agents for allaying the troubles arising
from this disease.