GAPES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 35

GAPES.

Gapes is a parasatic disease caused by the presence of worms in the windpipea of young chickens and fowls. The woira is called the Syngamus trachealis. On hoity examination it appears to be a small, reddish, forked .\orm. and is attached to the mueucH lininff of the. windpipe by tho lu-ddi of both branches of the fork. In reality, tho fork is made- up of two worms — therrale a.id female. The main branch and trunk, about half an inch in length, is the female worm; the lesser branch, about one-fifth of an inch long, and usually permanently attached to the female worm, is the male. The- worms attach themselves by theii mouths to the lining of the windpipe, and suck the blood of tha clrok. The dis-eass proves trouhlewme in many parts of the country, and many chickens dm of it D-eath may -"esuit from debility and the lost, of blooj duo to the presence of the worms, or <<. largs number of worm-, may cause inSarnmotion and 01-struction of the win-lpipe, ar.d death from suffocation. The disease is ir.es l d-i.Mg-erou-7 to chicks from one to four weeks old. It -onut.wfo affects large chicks ar.d axkilt fowls, but the presence of a few worms in ths windpipe of a Laig*.\ strong, healthy chick or adult bird seldom causes serious ineonven'-eoce to the bird, but it may prove a bad thing for t:i« poultry man as a source of infection to tho other birde.

The female worm does not lay her eggs; there are e^crai thousands of eggs in the

adult female, and when these axe sufficiently developed they sscape by rupture of the body of the parent. These eggs -nay hatch and develop into perfect wprms without leaving the windpipe- of the affected bird, but as a rule the adult worms and their eggs are coughed up and become a 6ource of infection to the other birds. Frequently such infection takes place through the drinking water. Well chicks may eat the worms coughed up by t.ho 6ick ones, or may get the eggs in food oi drink, and become infected with gapes. Many wild birds are liable to gapes, and their excrement dropped in the chicken yard may provo a source of infection. Eggs of the gape worm have- been found in the droppings of infected birds. Some authorities credit the common earthworms and garden e'ugs when found in ground occupied by diseased birds with harbouring tho ombr>os and eggs of the gape worm, and so keeping up infection. When eggs or embnn gape worms are eaten only a .small nunib;r of embryos find their way to tho windiripe, and it is probable that many are expelled in the dioppings to become a fresh source of troubl.->. Oiws small forked worm, if allowed to go .unmolested, is sufficient to infect a lairgo flock of chicks, and ruin tlra for the chioken-rakdng for a long time unless the rough disinfection of tho ground is accomplished. The symptoms of gapes are frequent gaping, sneezing, a whittling cough with dischargo of mucus and worms, d-umpish-nes&, weakness, and drooping wings. Whan badily affected the bird shakes its head frequently, gapes and coug-ha as if suffocating, droops, and is not able to keep up with the rest cf the flock, anJ stands in a dumpish position with ej'os closed, wings drooped, mouth op?n, and tong-ue protruding. Xh-3 mo-jt treatment is prevention of contagion. Extraction of the vorms from the windpipe is the only cure. All sick birds should be removed to quarters apart from the well ones. All coops and runs whfers infected birds have been should be thoroughly disinfected. Tho coops should have A, thorough application of hot whitewash. The ground or runs should be well sprinkled with airslaked limo and spaded, ploughed, or the houses and runs should bo sprinkled with one of the following solutions: — A 2 per cent, solution of sulphuric acid in water; or 2oz of copperas (sulphate of iron) dissolved in a bucket of water; or a solution oi permanganate of potassium in water, half an ounce of the crystals in a barrel of water; or two tablespoonfuis of napcreol to a gallon of water. The ground should be well sprinkled with one of tho above solutions, after infected chucks have been removed, then- ploxngh or spade and sprinkle again. Repeat this . disinfection whenever infected chicks have been running on the ground. Scald all drinking vessels used by sick birds, and be sure Ehat the water used is bailing. Always burn all chicks which dio of gapes, and whenever jcu find gap© worms or extract them from sick chickens be sure to burn the worms. Disinfect all da-opping3. A small piece of copperas placed in the drinking water is said to prevent contagion. Tincture of asafcetida— a teaspoonful in a quart of water— is used for the same purpose, and is ©aid to have a curative action. Three drachms of ealicylate of soda in a quart of drinking watei is also recommended as a preventive.

For extracting -ha norms from the chick"c windpipe use a stripped' feather tip or a gape worm-extractor. Moisten ths extractor with sweet oil or with a solution of one teaspoonful ol napcreol in a cup of water. Insert the extractor into th-* windpipe, and withdraw it with aelwrht twisting mo'ion. After a little practice the operation can bo ea-sily pel-formed, and if the operator is gentle and careful there is -not much danpr^i- of killlnar the chicke. Tho napcie-ol solution m the best to use, since it kilU any wr i-ms it reaches, wliethor they are withdrawn on the extiactor or not.

CAUSES OF DIARBHOKA

Chicken* are' vt-ry liabi ; io colas ami chilK If a ciiich.-ii geu really chilled in the fir«t week of h-> !ii<--, it usually; *=uecumbs sooner or la'cr. Diarrhcea is set up in mozt case*. The bt»«t remedy for this complaint is to givo a feed or two of boiled rice. It, may with advantage have a little powdeiod chalk sprinkled on it, but ad a rulo mo plain boiled rice Is sufficient. It bi.ou!<l I>' roiiifmbered '.hat if haid-bojled o^ K Is tor too long a prriod to chicks, It nearly always results in bowel compllint. Woakly chick* often lack tone in the bowels, and cannor properly expel the excrement: this result* In the pas-sag-c hoconii'ig- blocked up. pinrrhcei causes :i;: i ; iiUo, l>y th*» -ftutf on the chick gotthiif 'iiattftl. In Loih thc'O cases prompt action !•> y.cco^-ary. Tho parts muf>t be bath< d m v.arm water, to which a little Candy's fluid has bcon ad<J«-d. All ob-trucron mu-t bi^ cleared away, and the fluff gently cut fioni around the \ent. The diarrhopa, if pi-p-em, mv-t be stoppr<J. The operation iiuint bo i-c-p.'afd, if noccsfeary, once or twice; for if nol. no good will bo done, as the condition frequently contimies for a day or two. Meantime the diot must Ivj looked to, and the f.tronjfth of the <>hiok^ kept up. Gi\c them a drink of milk once or twico a day if possible, and a little mineod meat. This \vill bring them on wondeifullj .