S. V.
MUDALIAR
55
mes sticking out of the inflamed mucosa.
The points of attachment of the worms
were marked by petichae and breaks in the
ucosa. The duodenal mucosa was in-
med, thickened and oedematous. The
rface was studded with small immature
arasites, of a size varying from that of a
stard seed to that of a small melon
ed. Acute catarrhal enteritis was
resent. This was most prominent in the
rst foot of the duodenum beyond which
e lesions became gradually less intense.
he walls of the large intestines showed
ery few calcified nodules, but in their
men a small number of Oesophagosto-
um columbianum was found. The few
rongyle ova detected in the faeces were
robably of this species of worm. No
ukes were met with in the gall-bladder
bile ducts, although the liver showed
tty changes.
As regards the other organs, nothing
eyond a pallidity, probably caused by the
ss of blood, could be detected.
HISTOPATHOLOGY
A sectional study of the duodenum
Plate III, fig. 2) revealed an acute catarr-
al enteritis, with a cellular infiltration. A
ngitudinal section of the immature worm
Plate III, fig. 2) was seen in the submuc-
us area and its well-developed acetabulum
closing a piece of the mucous tissue
dicated considerable irritation caused by
these immature worms.
OBSERVATION
The mature worms obtained from the
umen were examined and mostly found to
e Cotylophoron cotylophorum and a very
ew Fischoederious elongatus. No other
elminths were met with in the rumen.
he immature worms from the duodenum
also appeared to be Cotylophoron cotylo-
horum, though it is obviously dangerous
attempt an identification of any worm,
articularly of amphistomes, at the im-
--ure stage. These immature worms
ere at different stages of develop-
ent. Some had developed the intes-
nal caeca, while in others were seen
only the sexual primordia. In a few
others, the genitalia could be distinctly
traced, though they had not begun function-
ing. The mature worms in the rumen had
ova in their uteri and probably a few ova
found in the faeces were from these
worms. That the cause of the enteritis
and death was due to these immature
forms of Cotylophoron cotylophorum is
quite apparent.
The pond or tank around which the
goats grazed was examined to ascertain
its moliuscan fauna and larval trematodes.
The molluses met with were Indoplanorbis
exustus, Limnea leuteola and Vivipara
bengalensis, of which only the Indoplanor-
bis exustus was found to discharge
cercariae which resembled Cercariae in-
dicae XXVI (Sewell, 1922), while the other
two molluscs were free from any infesta-
tion. It is possible that these cercariae
may be the larval forms of the amphis-
tomes in question. The actual percentage
of infection with the cercariae could not be
determined, as the molluscs were already
dying off owing to the scarcity of water in
the tank on account of the hot weather.
Further investigations on the determina-
tion of the cercarial fauna of this area
will be undertaken at a more propitious
season.
DISCUSSION
There appears to exist considerable
confusion with regard to the identity of
the adult amphistome of Cercariae indicae
XXVI (Sewell, 1922). Rao and Ayyar [1932]
evolved the adults of these cercariae by
feeding experiments and expressed the
opinion that the adults obtained were
Paramphistomum cervi. These authors
had obtained only immature forms and
based their diagnosis on these. The cerca-
riae of Paramphistomum cervi, according
to Bennett [1936], are lacking in the evagi-
nations from the excretory canals, which
formed a prominent feature in Cercariae
indicae XXVI. Hence, it is doubtful if the
adults obtained are not of Cotylophoron
species.
Bennett [1936] has described the
cercariae of Cotylophoron
cotylophorum
in the life history studies on that trematode