NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
BOVINE TRYPANOSOMIASIS IN CENTRAL PROVINCES
245
The second interesting outbreak of bovine trypanosomiasis encountered by the
author occurred in Damoh tahsil in Saugor district, towards the end of November.
The author's attention was at first directed on perusal of the contagious disease
register to the record of certain outbreaks, which had passed either for Anthrax or
for bhora, but no definite diagnosis seemed to have been made in these cases
by the local veterinary staff. About the same time another similar report of
bhora came from a village known as Mala. On the 24th November, this
village was visited by the author and there he found a heifer in extremis, and
its blood revealed the presence of trypanosomes under the microscope.
During the course of investigation, the local cultivators told the writer that
the disease was also prevalent in the adjacent villages of Rond and Sagra. On
receipt of this information an investigation was undertaken on the 26th and 27th
November in both these villages, where the disease proved to be mostly of a chronic
type, with a high rate of mortality.
The actual number of deaths recorded up to the 26th October in these two
localities were as follows:—
Name of village
Rond . . .
Sagra . . .
Bullocks
26
16
Cows
21
12
Young
calves
4
11
Buffaloes
6
1
Buffalo
calves
6
5
Ponies
1
5
Total
64
50
The number of cases found suffering from the disease at the time of the
author's first visit was as follows :—
Name of village
Bond . . .
Sagra . . .
Bullocks
10
16
Cows
11
4
Young
calves
2
4
Buffaloes
2
..
Buffalo
calves
..
..
Ponies
..
..
Total
25
24
The disease was confirmed microscopically in ten animals at both these villages,
and in all the suffering cases, the method of treatment adopted was an intravenous
administration of tartar emetic. Both the villages were visited again on the 11th
December when the disease was found to be still prevailing, more than thirty fresh
cases having occurred during the interval. Out of fifty cases treated with tartar
emetic during the author's previous visit, thirty-five were reported to have suc-
cumbed and the rest recovered.
In the course of this investigation, it was observed, that the disease ran an
acute, sub-acute and also a chronic course (Plate VIII, Figs. 1—3 and Plate IX,
Fig. 4) with the usual characteristic symptoms. As the symptoms have already
been described by the different workers in this country, it seems unnecessary to
recapitulate them in this article.
246 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, III
Microscopic examination of blood reveals the presence of trypanosomes in
the acute form of the disease quite readily, whereas in the sub-acute and chronic
forms they are rarely seen in the peripheral circulation. Soon after death, smears
of heart blood, lung, liver and cerebro-spinal fluid failed to reveal any trypano-
somes.
SUSCEPTIBILITY
Bullocks when overworked proved to be more susceptible than other cattle,
while on the other hand buffaloes appeared to resist the disease. Some young
calves below six months of age were reported to have succumbed during the recent
outbreaks, and in the case of one calf under six months, the author detected try-
panosomes on examination of blood smears.
REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION
A map is appended (Plate X) to indicate the incidence of bovine
trypanosomiasis as observed during the current year, the disease in all cases
having been confirmed microscopically on examination of blood smears in the
Veterinary Laboratory, Nagpur. In Saugor district, where the author investiga-
ted the problem, the area chiefly affected was low lying and covered with a wild
growth of tall thick grass known as kans, a large part of the area remaining under
water during rainy season.
SEASONAL INCIDENCE
The disease runs a definite seasonal course. The first outbreaks occurred
during the month of August, and these spread extensively during September,
October and November, when they began to subside. Some chronic cases occurred
in December and January in the villages where the disease had already been
prevailing since the month of November, but no fresh outbreak was reported during
the later two months.
TREATMENT
Twenty-one animals were treated in the month of October by means of tartar
emetic solution administered intravenously, the dose used varying from 10 to 15
grains in 20 to 30 c.c. of distilled water. All the twenty-one animals were suffering
from an acute type of the disease. This method of treatment proved to be
strikingly successful, for only one of the treated animals succumbed and all others
recovered. The efficacy of this method of treatment was also tested upon more
than fifty chronic cases, the majority of which were in an advanced stage of the
disease, but the results were not so encouraging, for the treatment was successful
in about 30 per cent of the cases only. These results are summarized in Tables
I & II.
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. VI, Part III.
PLATE IX.
FIG. 1. Bullock No. 24—Fatal stage after a chronic course. The photograph
shows two other affected animals.
FIG. 2. Bullock No. 7—Indicating sloughing of parts due to firing in an affected case.
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. VI, Pt. III.
PLATE X.
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb., Vol. VI, Pt. III.
PLATE X.
Map showing prevalence of trypanosomiasis in Central Provinces.
BOVINE TRYPANOSOMIASIS IN CENTRAL PROVINCES
247
TABLE I
Table showing the result of treatment with tartar emetic given intravenously during initial stage in acute form
of the disease
Village
Bamora
P. C. 39
padriya .
Animal
Bullock No. 1 .
Bullock No. 2 .
Bullock No. 3 .
Bullock No. 4 .
Bullock No. 5 .
Bullock No. 6 .
Bullock No. 7 .
Bullock No. 8 .
Cow No. 9 .
Bullock No. 10 .
Bullock No. 11 .
Bullock No. 12 .
Buffalo No. 13 .
Bullock No. 14 .
Bullock No. 15 .
Bullock No. 16 .
Bullock No. 17 .
Cow No. 18 .
Cow No. 19 .
Heifer No. 20 .
Bullock No. 21 .
Bullock No. 22 .
Total No. 22 .
Symptoms
Off
feed,
lachrymation
dullness.
Initial stage
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Latent stage.
Initial stage
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
..
Blood
examination
Positive for
trypano-
somiasis.
Do.
.
Negative .
Do. .
Do. .
Positive .
Negative .
Do. .
Do. .
Positive .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
..
Date of
treatment
3rd Oct., 1935
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
7th Oct., 1935
Do. .
2nd Oct., 1935
(2 injections
15 grains
each.)
7th Oct., 1935
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Death 1
Date of second
visit
7th Oct., 1935
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
25th Nov., 1935
Do. .
The
animal
died on the
9th October,
1935.
25th Nov., 1935
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Blood
examina-
tion
Negative
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
..
Negative
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Do.
.
Remarks
Animal re-
covered,
symptoms
subsided.
Recovered.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Symptoms
subsided,
animal fully
recovered.
Do.
Died.
Recovered.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Recoveries 95 per cent.
248 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI,
III
TABLE II
Table showing the results of treatment in chronic form of the disease
Village
Mala, Damoh
tahsil.
Animal
Cow No. 23 . .
Bullock No. 24 .
Bullock No. 25 .
Bullock No. 26 .
Bullock No. 27 .
Bullock No. 28 .
Bullock No. 29 .
Buffalo No. 30 .
Buffalo No. 31 .
Buffalo No. 32 .
Cow No. 33 . .
Cow No. 34 . .
Cow No. 35 . .
Cow No. 36 . .
Cow calf No. 37 .
Cow calf No. 38 .
Bullock No. 39 .
Bullock No. 40 .
Bullock No. 41 .
Bullock No. 42 .
Cow No. 43 . .
Cow No. 44 . .
Cow No. 45 . .
Cow No. 46 . .
Cow calf No. 47 .
Cow calf No. 48 .
Stage of
disease
Latent stage
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Sub-acute .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Blood
examination
Positive .
Negative .
Do. .
Do. .
Positive .
Negative .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Positive .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Negative .
Positive .
Negative .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Positive .
Do. .
Do. .
Date of
treatment
23rd Nov., 1935
27th Nov., 1935
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Date of 2nd
visit
25th Nov., 1935
11th Dec., 1935
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Do. .
Remarks
Animal died on
24th
Novem-
ber, 1935.
Died.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Recovered.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Died.
Do.
Total 26.
Deaths
18.
Recoveries 8.
BOVINE TRYPANOSOMIASIS IN CENTRAL PROVINCES
249
IDENTITY OF THE CAUSAL ORGANISMS
A number of blood smears were submitted to the Muktesar Laboratory for
examination and the following report was received :—
" The blood smears forwarded have, on microscopical examination, shown
Trypanosoma evansi in each case ".
IDENTITY OF TICKS AND FLIES
Specimens of flies and ticks, collected from some of the affected animals, were
forwarded for examination to the Muktesar laboratory. The flies were identified
as Hippobosca maculata and the ticks as Hyloma aegyptium and Boophilus australis.
Blood smears, made from some of the crushed ticks, proved negative for the
presence of trypanosomes.
It is of interest that the disease is known as bhora amongst the local
cultivators, the name being based upon the phenomenon of circular movements
manifested by the affected animals. The disease is believed by some to be brought
about as a result of ingesting certain species of worms found on the long grass, while
others believe it to be caused by snake bite. Firing is the only treatment com-
monly practised by the local cultivators, and it often leads to sloughing of the
parts treated in this manner (Plate IX, Fig. 5).
SUMMARY
1. Although bovine trypanosomiasis is not of infrequent occurrence, the
disease has hitherto been mistaken for anthrax in certain tracts in the province.
2. The disease affects both cattle and buffaloes but working bullocks are parti-
cularly susceptible to it, the rate of mortality in these, when affected with the acute
form of the disease, being more than 90 per cent. Young cattle come second in
regard to susceptibility, while buffaloes are more resistant.
3. Some cases of death also occurred among young calves below six months
of age, and in one instance the trypanosomes were detected under the microscope.
4. The disease runs an acute, sub-acute and chronic course. In the acute
form, the death may occur from six hours to twenty-four hours from the onset of
symptoms. In the chronic type, the animal may linger as long as one to three
weeks.
5. The disease has a definite seasonal incidence. It appears soon after the
rains and continues till the latter part of the winter.
6. The disease prevails particularly in low-lying areas inundated during the
rains and covered with a wild growth of tall, thick grass known as kans.
250 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, III
7. During 1935, very serious outbreaks of the disease have been recorded in
Saugor district, with a mortality rate of more than 96 per cent.
8. The trypanosomes concerned in these outbreaks were examined at the
Muktesar laboratory and found indistinguishable from Trypanosoma evansi.
9. The method of treatment adopted was an intravenous injection of tartar
emetic and this proved very effective when given in the initial stage of an acute
form of the disease. In the chronic form, however, it proved successful only in
30 per cent of the cases.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author takes this opportunity to thank the Veterinary Inspector, Saugor,
and those Veterinary Assistant Surgeons who helped him in different ways in
this investigation.
The author feels very grateful to the Director, Imperial Institute of Veterinary
Research, Muktesar, for his examining the material submitted, and to Mr. S. K.
Sen, M.Sc., Entomologist of the same Institute, for going through this paper and
his helpful suggestions.
In conclusion, the author greatly appreciates the services of Mr. G. N.
Khardenavis, Clerk, for keeping an accurate record of field observations.
REFERENCES
Anantnarayan Rao (1923). Some observations on Trypanosomiasis in Madras
Presidency. Ind. Vet. J. 8, 111.
Annual Report of the Imp. Ins. Vet. Res., Muktesar, 1934-35.
Iyer, P. R., and Sarwar, S. M. (1935). Bovine Surra in India, with a description of a
recent Outbreak. Ind. J. Vet. Sci. and Anim. Husb. 5, 158.
Mahajan, M. R. (1934). A note on Bovine Trypanosomiasis in Hyderabad State.
Ind., J. Vet. Sci. and Anim. Husb. 4, 242.
Stirling, R. F. (1927). Vet. Rec. 1, 71.
Venkataratnam Chetti, C. R. (1922). Trypanosomiasis in Cattle. Madras Vet. J.
No. 17, pp. 2—5.
AN UNUSUAL CASE OF EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS IN A
MULE
BY
P. R. KRISHNA IYER, G.M.V.C.,
Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar
[Received for publication on 18th April, 1936.]
(With Plates XI—XIII.)
Epizootic lymphangitis is a virulent disease of equines, caused by the specific
fungus, Cryptococcus farciminosus Rivolta, and it has no doubt existed from time
immemorial in many parts of the world where it has often been confounded with
cutaneous glanders or ulcerative lymphangitis. French veterinarians have, how-
ever, recognized the disease as a separate entity for a long time under such names
as Farcin de riviere, Farcin en cul de poule, Farcin curable, Farcin d' afrique and
Lymphangite Epizootica.
Epizootic lymphangitis is usually considered as a suppurative disease of the
lymphatic vessels and glands of the skin only, and the possibility of the occurrence
of atypical cases affecting the internal organs, with the total freedom of the skin,
is, we believe, often overlooked. The diagnosis of such atypical cases presents
obvious difficulties. For the above reason and since a consideration of these
atypical forms of Cryptococcosis is likely to throw some light on the probable
modes of natural transmission of the disease, about which there does not appear
to be any unanimity of opinion, it is proposed to record in this article the case of
a mule which succumbed to an infection of the intestine, the usual cutaneous
lesions being entirely absent.
LITERATURE
In order that the present case may be studied in its proper perspective, it
would seem worth while to notice briefly and in chronological order some records of
epizootic lymphangitis involving sites other than the skin.
Nocard [1891] pointed out the constant association of the parasite with the
lesions and how easily a diagnosis can be made by demonstrating their presence.
He called attention to the occurrence of lesions on the mucous membranes in some
animals resembling those of glanders.
Mazzanti [1892] found, on post mortem examination of a mare 2½ years old,
which died showing symptoms of enteritis, certain lesions in the terminal part of
the colon. The colon showed an abscess of the size of a pigeon's egg, and in the
vicinity the mucous membrane presented one irregular ulcerated area, about
12 cm. in diameter, with raised borders, a depressed centre and covered with
(251)
254 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, III
in accord with the fact that bovines in other countries have resisted all attempts
at experimental infection. Hoare goes on to say that the disease being so pre-
valent in Japan, almost every horse is liable to develop an attack at an early
age, and that a horse is considered more valuable there after recovery than if
it had never had an attack, as it is then held to be immune.
In Morocco, Menod and Velu [1915] described what they believe to be cases
of delayed relapses among horses, as opposed to reinfection, occurring from 3
to 6 months after apparent complete recovery. These workers refer to the
occurrence of osseous lesions in this disease, averring at the same time that these
constitute the most serious and refractory form. They add that, with rare
exceptions, the extracutaneous lesions are often secondary, and that out of 20
cases of epizootic lymphangitis slaughtered as incurable in one year, 13 were
found to have developed bony lesions.
Fayet, Leysses and Prudhomme [1917] record under the heading " a rare
seat of epizootic lymphangitis " lesions in the post-pharyngeal lymphatic glands
of a horse.
In the experience of Descazeaux (1921], a horse, which was under treatment
for epizootic lymphangitis with lesions about the withers, died of some digestive
disorder. In this case, cryptococci were found in the enlarged prescapular and
axillary lymph glands, but the stomach and intestines showed no specific altera-
tion whilst the mesenteric glands appeared healthy. However, smears from the
mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, as also from the contents of
a Habronema abscess in the stomach showed on examination the presence of
numerous cryptococci. Histological examination of the Habronema tumour
showed masses of cryptococci and the helminths, whilst giant cells containing
numerous cryptococci were found in the submucous lymph spaces.
Velu [1924] proposes the name Cryptococcus marandei for the parasite affect-
ing the lachrymal tract of donkeys, and adds that the parasite can be transmitted
readily from donkey to donkey with infective material and that filamentous
forms and ascospores do not occur in these parasites.
Gronow [1924] found mycelial and yeast forms of the parasite in the pus
from a local abscess of a horse produced by subcutaneous inoculation of a living
culture of the organism.
Michelon [1925] mentions the occurrence of four abscesses in the lungs
and one in the bronchial gland of a horse due to Cryptococcus farciminosus. The
abscesses contained yellowish white pus.
Hutyra and Marek [1926] write that the parasites may also be present in
apparently normal lymph glands and lymph spaces of the gastro-intestinal mucous
membrane of affected horses, and quote the above-cited experience of Descazeaux
in this connection. These workers add that sometimes small nodules and puru-
lent foci may be present in the lungs and testicles of affected horses.
AN UNUSUAL CASE OF EPIZOOTIC LYMPHANGITIS IN A MULE
255
Paine [1931] observes that the disease is more prevalent in tick-infested
areas and that ticks take an active part in its transmission.
Bardelli and Cilli [1931] describe a case of osteomyelitis of the left tibia of
a horse due to Cryptococcus farciminosus. In the interior of the tibial crest, there
was a purulent centre, 2 cm. in dimension, surrounded by a zone of reaction
manifested as a condensing ostitis, about 5 mm. in width. Numerous cryptococci
were seen in the purulent fluid.
From the Sudan, Bennett [1931] describes a form of interstitial pneumonia
affecting horses and mules but not donkeys caused by Cryptococcus farciminosus
and thinks that these lesions may have been overlooked in the past. The
symptoms consisted of accelerated and increasingly shallow respiration, irregular
rise in temperature, steady loss of condition though the appetite for the most
part remained normal. The pleura and the bronchial lymph glands were un¬
involved, and only in one of the many cases observed was there an evidence of
the presence of superficial or cutaneous lesions of epizootic lymphangitis. No other
internal organs were affected. From a histopathological point of view, the author
writes that the lesions commence with lymphocytic infiltration of the terminal
bronchi without any evidence of vascular congestion, the infiltration later on
extending to the interlobular septa until one or more whole lobules are involved.
The lymphocytes then get replaced or are outnumbered by large mono-nuclear
cells derived from the alveolar epithelium and these gradually invade and des-
troy the small bronchioles, veins and arteries. This is followed by a fusion of the
mono-nuclear cells resulting in the formation of giant cells containing large num-
bers of cryptococci, this in turn being followed by the destruction of the invaded
cells and the continued proliferation of the parasites. In a later publication
Bennett [1932], places on record the occurrence of hyphae of Cryptococcus far¬
ciminosus in a natural case of epizootic lymphangitis. The subject was an aged
horse which had extensive lesions, covering practically the whole of its skin,
extending to the nostrils and affecting the sub-maxillary lymph glands. In the
lungs there was present a number of pea-like scattered nodules, closely simulat-
ing glanders. In the smears from the lung nodules, characteristic hyphae of
the cryptococcus were encountered, such as are formed in artificial cultures.
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT CASE
The clinical material on which this paper is based, was made available to
this Institute through the courtesy of Major A. J. Kelly, R.A.V.C., Officer
Commanding, Military Veterinary Hospital, Jubbulpore, and at the outset the
writer wishes to express his indebtedness to this officer for kind permission to
utilise the material for the preparation of this article.
Mule No. 122 of No. 28 A. T. Company was admitted to hospital on 12th
November, 1934 in fair condition, but with the visible mucous membranes very
G
256 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VI, III
anaemic. Helminthiasis was suspected but the faeces failed to show any worm
ova while the blood count was found to be normal. Diarrhoea started on 1st
December, 1934 and it persisted for a week, when the mule began to lose condi-
tion. Diarrhoea started again on 15th December, 1934 and persisted through-
out the progress of the disease. The mule grew weaker day by day, being finally
unable to rise. It was destroyed on 3rd January, 1935 by which time it had
been reduced practically to a skeleton. In the hospital the animal had received
the routine treatment against worms as adopted in Military Veterinary Hospitals
in India.
On post mortem examination, a few strongyles were found in the intestines.
Portions of the bowels and a few mesenteric glands were sent to this Institute
for examination. On enquiry, the information was elicited that the mule had
shown no cutaneous lesions, nor any wounds or any cording of the lymphatics
on the skin. However, it had a history of a punctured foot and of a few days
treatment in hospital about two months prior to its re-admission.
LABORATORY EXAMINATION
Macroscopical examination.—The specimen of the intestines, showed a few
well-defined, circular ulcers, with swollen, prominent edges and a dug-out crater-like
ragged surface. These ulcers measured from 0.5 to 3.0 cm. in diameter (Plate
XI, Fig. I). A few small nodular abscesses containing cheesy purulent material,
were also seen on the mucosa, and on pressure some of these discharged a thin
purulent material through a minute central hole. The mesenteric glands were
distinctly enlarged, and were soft and elastic to feel. When cut into, the entire
gland parenchyma was found converted into a whitish suppurating mass (Plate
XI, Fig. 2).
Microscopical examination.—Smears from the purulent material from abscesses
and from the surfaces of ulcers, when stained by Gram's and Claudius' method,
revealed the presence of innumerable Cryptococcus farciminosus (Plate XI, Fig. 3).
Direct wet smears of pus from the lesions, revealed on examination under a cover-
glass the refractile double contoured outlines of the parasites (Plate XII, Fig. 4).
The parasites had a slight ovoid body, one end being rounded while the other was
generally pointed and measured 3 to 4 microns in length. In stained preparations,
some of the parasites were found collapsed and semilunar in appearance, due to
the evacuation of the contained body fluid and presumably representing the
remains of dead organisms. Some parasites were found to have taken the stain
along the periphery only, leaving the central part unstained, while others were
completely stained. In a few cases, the cell contents were found to be massed
at one end of the cell leaving the other parts clear. Like all other yeast cells