Ancylostomiasis

Ancylostomiasis 

a disease in foxes, dogs, and other carnivores caused by small (9–21 mm long) roundworms, Ancylostoma, which are parasitic in the small intestine. Ancylostomiasis is encountered chiefly in the Far East and southern USSR. The female parasite lays eggs, which are eliminated in the feces of the invaded host into the environment. Mobile larvae develop from the eggs and through the skin or mouth of the animal (in swallowing) penetrate the organism and settle in the intestine, becoming sexually mature parasites.

Ancylostomiasis is accompanied by a loss of appetite, vomiting (sometimes with blood), constipation, and emaciation. Death is possible in severe cases. Treatment involves anthelmintic drugs such as carbon tetrachloride and tet-rachlorethylene.

Ancylostomiasis can cause substantial economic loss for fur farms. For prophylactic purposes the animals are kept in cages with mesh bottoms. The cages are heat treated (for example, with the flame of a blow torch). Animals that may be infested are periodically treated for the worms.

REFERENCES

Shevtsov, A. A. Veterinarnaia parazitologiia. Moscow, 1965.
Antipin, D. N. “Ankilostomoz.” In Veterinarnaia entsiklopediia, vol. 1. Moscow, 1968.