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SYNOPSIS. A Tritrichomonas foetus‐likt flagellate was found in the stomach, small intestine, and cecum as well as in the nasal cavity of pigs. Xo appreciable differences in morphology or response to cultivation could be found among the trichomonads from the different sites; therefore, it is considered that they.belong to a single species, Tritrichomonas suis (Gruby & Delafond). a description of which is given. This organism could be grown indefinitely in various media, and, after a short period of cultivation, it was the only species surviving in cultures that originated from cecal samples containing 2 or 3 species. T. suis was found in the nasal cavity in 55 of 100 pigs, in the stomach in 41 (8.0%) of 512, in the small intestine in 3 of 100. and in the cecum in 215 (43.370) of 496. A T. batrachorum‐type trichomonad, herein described as Tritrichomonas rotunda n. sp., was found in the cecum in 52 (10.5%) of 496 pigs. This species is typically broadly pyriform or rotund (average length 8.95 ± 0.83 ii, range, 6.83‐11.4), with 3 equal or subequal anterior flagella slightly longer than the body, a relatively low undulating membrane extending y2 to 2/1 of the length of the body, and a posterior free flagellum usually a little shorter than the body. The narrow axostyle, expanded anteriorly into a curved capitulum closely associated with the large, spherical, anteriorly located nucleus, projects from the posterior surface of the flagellate for a distance which equals about 2/3 half of the body length. The parabasal apparatus is biramus. This species could be maintained only temporarily in media not containing extracts of cecal contents. A Trichomonas pronazeki‐typt flagellate, found in the cecum in 126 (25.4%) of 496 pigs and in the small intestine in 1 of 100. is described as Trichomonas buttreyi n. sp. This organism is relatively small (average length 5.92 ± 0.79 μ, range 4.55‐7.49). ellipsoidal in shape, with 5 to 4 flagella up to twice as long as the body, a relatively high undulating membrane of body length, a narrow axostyle with an inconspicuous capitulum closely associated with the usually oval nucleus, a projecting part of the axostyle that equals about j; of the body length, and a disc‐shaped parabasal body lying dorso‐lateral to the nucleus. In media without cecal extract this species could not be subcultured.

Two 14-day growth trials were performed to assess the effects of Eimeria acervulina infection (duodenal coccidiosis) on the Fe-Zn interrelationship in growing chicks. In the first assay, two levels of Fe (0 and 2000 mg/kg) were added to diets that contained either 0 or 52 mg supplemental Zn (from ZnCO3) per kilogram to establish whether excess Fe would affect Zn status of healthy and coccidial-infected chicks. In the second trial, either 0 or 2000 mg Zn/kg was added to diets containing 0 or 500 mg Fe/kg to determine whether Zn could modify Fe utilization. Based on chick performance as well as plasma Zn concentration, excess dietary Fe did not antagonize Zn in either healthy or E. acervulina-infected chicks. Coccidial infection, however, increased liver Fe and decreased intestinal Fe and hemoglobin concentration. Excess dietary Zn reduced performance and Fe content of tissues in both healthy and infected chicks. Coccidial infection ameliorated the adverse effects of excess Zn on performance and tissue Zn concentration and consequently enhanced Fe status of birds fed 2000 mg Zn/kg. These data suggest that the Fe-Zn interaction is a one-directional phenomenon in the chick, i.e., excess Zn reduces Fe utilization but excess Fe does not antagonize Zn.

The gastrointestinal tracts of 310 steel-trapped or hunter shot Illinois raccoons (Procyon lotor) were collected in November and December 1979 and 1980 and examined for the presence of Baylisascaris procyonis (Nematoda) in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of this ascarid and to note any differences with respect to host age and sex. The raccoons were classified as either juveniles (animals less than 1 yr old) or adults. The prevalence for all the raccoons examined was 81.9% and is the highest reported in the United States when compared to other moderate to large samples. Juvenile raccoons had a significantly higher (P less than 0.0005) prevalence (93.5%) and mean intensity (62.4) than adults (55.3%; 11.8). Male raccoons had a significantly higher (P less than 0.025) prevalence (87.6%) than females (76.4%). Adult males had a significantly higher (P less than 0.05) prevalence (66.7%) than adult females (44.9%). In the other comparisons, no significant differences (P less than 0.05) in either prevalence or intensity were found. Since juveniles are more heavily infected than adults, they most likely pose a greater threat to other animals and humans as a potential cause of visceral larva migrans. It is advisable that all young raccoons kept as pets or in captivity be systematically and routinely treated with an appropriate anthelminthic to remove adult B. procyonis from the intestine.

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