The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-05-04
7hTeadwOTII|s
Parasites Infestlng the Outlet Of
sheep and Cattle Caused by
Swallowing Insects


of the gullet beneath the surface in
rather striking wavy pattern SINH
,ar 10 that formed by snake as 1t
travels over a smooth surface. The
worms are slender and threadlike,
hut as they measure from over an
inch to almost 6 inches in length and
raise up the surface OF the lining of
the gullet to form slender wavy ridg-
es. they are readily located when an
infested gullet is slit open and exam
ined. SO far as known, the damage
occasioned by the presence of these
parasites in sheep and cattle is ra-
Their slight, though it has been deter
mined that closely related parasite
is intimately associated with IL not
the casual agent of cancer in the
stomach of rats.
1t has been shown by investigation
and experiments in the Geological
Division of the Bureau Of Animal In
dustry that various species of dung
sheep and cattle become infested
with the gullet worm. These dung
beetles may be found in almost any
manure deposit, except during the
winter in cold climates. The beetles
usually crawl under the manure de-
post, enter from the bottom, ana
feed on the inner portion Of the de-
post as long as it remains moist.
When the beetles eat the manure
they swallow the gullet worm eggs
which have passed down the esoph-
agus through the stomach and in
testine and out in the manure of the
infested sheep or COW.
AS soon as the manure becomes
too dry and hard to work the dung
beetles abandon it and crawl into
the ground or fly to other and fresh
er deposits. In about month the
eggs which we're eaten by the beet
les have Matched and developed into
an encysted stage in the body of the
beetle, ready to continue their de-
yelopment when the infested beetle
is swallowed by COW or sheep.
The opportunity for sheep and cat
tie to swallow these beetles comes
when the beetles fly from one ma
nure deposit to another. The fight
usually ends by the beetles landing
on the pasture somewhere near a
manure deposit, and as they crawl
about through the grass toward the
manure, attracted by the odor, they
are commonly swallowed by grazing
animals. The beetles are no doubt
eaten unconsciously as a rule, but as
sheep and cattle eat large numbers
of insects, since practically every
plant is the permanent home or the
temporary resting place Of number
of insects, 1t is perhaps matter OF
more or less indifference to them
even IL they are conscious of the
presence of insects in a mouthful OF
food,
This Is especially true OF cattle,
since cattle are noted for eating for
eign objects, such as nails, wire.
bolts, knives, rubbers, etc. Among
the various kinds OF insects picked
UP by sheep and cattle during the
course of a day dung beetles are like
" to be more or less numerous and
OF these some are likely to harbor
larval stages Of the gullet worm, now
ready for the next step in develop
ment. In the digestive tract OF the
COW or sheep the beetles undergo par.
tial digestion, releasing the larval
worms, which make their way to the
gullet and burrow into its lining.
Here the worms become mature and
in time the female deposits eggs that
pass down the gullet and out In the
manure to carry on the life cycle.
It was found that under expert
mental conditions the eggs OF the
gullet worm would develop to an In
fective larva in croton bugs as we'll
as in dung beetles; but since crofon
bugs do not breed in manure and
ere house dwellers, 1t is evident that
they do not play any part In the nat:
ural transmission Of the parasite. IL
is interesting to note, however, that
Danish scientists have found worm
similar to the gullet worm of sheep
and cattle, which develops as lar
va in creton bugs. cockroaches, and
mealworms, and which occurs in ma
ture in the gullet. mouth, tongue and
first portion OF the stomach OF rats
This worm is extremely interesting
from the fact already mentioned that
its development in the rat is follow
ed by the appearance of cancer OF
the stomach, a fact OF great import
ance from a scientific and medical
standpoint. The same parasite VIII