The Numbers of Crossocephalus Viviparus (Nematoda: Atractidae) In the Zebra (Equus Burchellii Bohmi

Abstract

Urquhart & Hay have attempted to estimate the number of nematodes occurring in the large intestine in infections of Crossocephalus viviparus in Equus burchellii. One large intestine and three caeca were removed from four apparently healthy zebras of similar size shot at Konza, Kenya. The volume of ingesta in the entire large intestine was 60 litres. The number of nematodes estimated by dilution counts of representative samples of the ingesta and expressed as total numbers of male, female and immature worms in the large intestine of each zebra ranged from 96, 000 (1.6 worms per ml. of ingesta) to 3, 750, 000 (62 worms per ml. of ingesta), the latter figures being those for the entire large intestine.