32
A Note on Guineaworm Infection in Dogs
covered. It had been treated privately from 14 August 1945 to 30 August 1945 for
filariasis.
Clinical symptoms. The dog was emaciated and partially off food. A pustule was
seen on the internal surface of the left foreleg. The pustule burst and a Guinea-worm
protruded. Three days later the exposed portion was wrapped around a match stick and
the filaria removed. It measured 600 mm. in length.
Another pustule from which hung about three inches of a parasite was observed a few
days after on the inner surface of the metatarsus of the right hind leg below the hock.
(Plate VI, fig. 1). On removal the filaria was found to measure 540 mm. in length. Still
another filaria was found protruding on 31 August 1945 from the lower cervical region.
This was removed and measured 540 mm long. The ulcers were surrounded by haemor-
rhagic zones and discharged sero-sanguinous pus The temperature of the dog ranged
between 102° and 103 4°F.
The smears from the ulcer were stained with methylene blue. They revealed a large
number of pus cells, a few red blood cells and a number of larvae of Filaria medinensis
with cross striations and typical head and tail. The uterus of the extruding parasite
got ruptured yielding a milky fluid which on microscopic examination showed numerous
living larvae. Some smears were stained with Giemsa and methylene blue ; large number
of larvae were seen which got better stained with methylene blue
No larvae could be seen in the blood. The differential leucocytic count of blood in-
dicated neutrophilia—polymorphs 81 per cent. The other white cells were—
monocytes 8 per cent, lymphocytes 9 per cent, basophyles 2 per cent, eosinophyles
0 per cent.
The examination of the faeces by floatation method revealed Ancylostomum
caninum ovm. It is probable that dysenteric syptoms were due to ancylostomiasis.
The urine was transparent and yellowish in colour having specific gravity of 1.029,
albumin, (0.15 per cent.) and bile were present and reaction was slightly acidic. Sugar,
blood, hamoglobin and pus were absent.
Subject No, 2. Alsatian admitted as outpatient No. 390 on 11 September 1945.
History. The dog was at Hoshiarpur for the last many years and was brought to
Lahore about two months back.
Clinical symptoms. An eruption was seen on the brisket and on its examination
caudal end of the Dracunculus medinensis was seen coming out. The parasite measuring
575 mm. was removed. The temperature of the dog was 103°F. The detailed study
could not be made as the dog was removed to Hoshiarpur soon after.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Our thanks are due to J. S. Garewal, Esq., I.V.S., Principal, Punjab Veterinary
College, Lahore, for the facilities provided at the College and his guidance.
REFERENCES
Cinotti (1906). cited by Leiper, R. T. (1910). J. Trop. vet. Sci. 5, 416.
Gaiger, S. H. (1918). J. Trop. vet. Sci. 5, 481
Griffith (1888) cited by Leiper, R. T. (1910). J. Trop. vet. Sci. 5. 419
Hutrya. F. and Marek, J. (1938). Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the Diseases of Domestic Animals. 730.
Leiper, R. T. (1910). J. Trop. vet. Sci. 5. 418
Mitter, S. N. (1910). J. Trop. vet. Sci. 5. 418
Piot (1889) cited by Leiper, R. T. (1910). J. Trop. vet. Sci. 411