(3) Treatment. Treatment is not satisfactory. One-half CC doses of tetrachlorethylene may be tried.
Figure 45. Life cycle of pigeon strongyle.
(4) Prevention. The same methods prescribed for ascarids apply to strongyles.
c. Other round worms attacking pigeons are numerous, but only capillary worms will be discussed here. These are very thin, hair-like worms sometimes found in the digestive tract of pigeons from the crop down through the intestine. Their life cycle is direct. No satisfactory drug has been found to rid pigeons of this worm. Fortunately, their life cycle is similar to that of ascarids, and the same preventive measures are effective.
d. Tape worms, which are occasionally seen in pigeons, acquire a length of 6 to 8 inches.
(1) Life cycle. Tape worms have what is called an indirect life cycle, that is they must pass through at least two different species to complete it ([fig. 46]).
(a) Adult tape worms are found in the small intestine. Their bodies are made up of a head and segments. The head is essentially an anchor that fastens the worm to the intestine of the bird. The body segments form at the head and mature as they grow further from the head.
(b) Each segment contains both male and female sex organs and, as it matures, becomes virtually a packet of tape worm eggs.