Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-03
Difference Between True and
False Gapes: Suggestions
For Each
Propagation of Intestinal
Worms and Their Effect on
Fowls
BY DIR. B. T.. Kaupp
Poultry investigator and Pathologist
For United States Department of
Agriculture

Agricultural experts estimate that
almost ten million dollars is lost an
nually by diseases of poultry, of
which are a great part is due TO worms
which are harbored in the intestinal
tract and other vital organs. The
writer of this article has made Il close
study of the subject, and experiment.
ed with drugs and means of ridding
fowls of these pests Some of the re-
suits of his Investigations follow:
The tube which extends from the
throat to the lungs is commonly called
the windpipe. Its scientific term is
the trachea. AS "A result of worms in
the. trachea a condition may develop
which is called gapes, so called be-
cause the bird in it's later stages gasps
for air by extending its head high into
the air with mouth open.
True and False Gapes
There are many causes for. gapes.
such as pieces of cracked corn or
other particles of food being sucked
down the tracheal opening in the
throat during the process of swallow
ing. Examine the throat of a bird
and YOU will see long slit open
and shut at the upper end of the
laryn%. or box at the upper end of
the windpipe. There is no covering
to this air opening as in mammals,
hence 1t is not so we'll protected
when the food passes over it to the
gullet or esophagus. Consequently.
II the bird chokes or gasps a small
particle of food may find it's way into
the upper part of the windpipe and
thus obstruct the free passage of air.
we once found n whole grain of corn
lodged in the upper part of the wind
pipe of a fowl.
When the windpipe becomes OBJ
structed it is difficult for the air to
pass and the bird gasps Obviously.
TINS Is not due to worms. And since
the condition due to worms is called
gapes, we call this other gasping =
false gapes.
There is worm, the male of
which is round, white in color and
ABOUT one-fourth inch long, and the
ienale is about one and one-fourth'
inches long, which find their way into
the Windpipe and cause true games
Ihese two worms are usually attach
ed, making Y-shaped looking worm
put which, as just stated, is really
tNN Two uistlnct individuals. Many of
tnese worms may invade single
trachea and cause serious trouble.
How the Worms Spread
Wnen f1lled with mature eggs the
iemale worm is coughed out of the
trachea, or the chick dies and the
worms then decay, and finally the eggs
or minute worms are freed upon the
srounu. Ihese are devoured by
earthWorms, which are in turn eaten
by the young chicken, and the bird
is INFESTED: only young birds are
seriously affected by gapeworms Ola
birds appear proof against them A.
any rate they do not produce serious
results. 'o' iouS
Earthworms taken into the stomach
oI the chlck are digested. and the
minute worms (Syngamus tracheaIisS
are liberated. 1t must be rememhay,
ed that all dead tissue is digestad
by the stomach fluids. but tho i've
worms are so constituted that these
secretions have no i'll effects unon
tnem. The liberated worms now bore
thelr way through the wall of Tho
stomach. and finally become located in
the trachea. They attach Themselves
in clusters to the wall of the traoba, %
Their, heads are provided with snc-
tlon discs by which they hold on. rho
head parts are equipped with micro
SCOPE membraneous teeth that wound
tne surface to which they are az
tached and suck the blood. AS the
worms grow the mass becomes larg-
er. AT tirst perhaps they cause no
later they induce
grave symptoms and death. AS each
worm grows the air passage gradu-
ally becomes obstructed and the bird
nnds breathing more and more dif-
hcult Threatened with suffocation
the bird extends it's head into the air
and gasps The chick then stand
around dropped" feathers ruffled,
sleepy listless, finally comb wattles
and face turn purple and the poor
creature dies
When Gapes Get Into the Flock
Ground that is infested by these
worms cannot be used successfully
for rearing young chicks. The soil
should be plowed and crops raised
upon it, Move all chick quarters. 1t