56
Fatal Enteritis in Goats
and concluded that Cercariae indicae
XXVI (Sewell, 1922) is not the larval form.
His description of the excretory system of
the cercariae which he has found for the
adult parasite agrees with that in Cercariae
indicae XXVI. The differences noticed
by him do not seem to justify his claim
that it is different. I am of opinion that
Bennett [1936] was actually dealing with
Cercariae indicae XXVI (Sewell, 1922).
Srivastava [1938] in the life history
studies of Cotylophoron cotylophorum has
mentioned the larval form of this parasite
to be very similar to Cercariae indicae
XXIX, though not identical with it. It has
already been established by Rao and Ayyar
[1932] and Vaidyanathan [1941] that the
adults of these cercariae are Fischoederius
elongatus belonging to a different genus
altogether. Further, Cercariae indicae
XXIX has been so far recorded only from
Limnaea leuleola and not from Indopla-
norbis exustus.
Pande [1935] records an acute amphis-
tomiasis of cattle in Assam caused by
immature forms of Paramphistomum cervi.
During a personal discussion with him, he
expressed the opinion that the immature
forms are probably of Cotylophoron
species and that he was not convinced that
they were of Paramphistomum cervi.
Le Roux [1930] has dealt with two
severe outbreaks of amphistomiasis due to
Cotylophoron cotylophorum in sheep and
goats.
Chatterjee [1931] in his preliminary
observations on the life history studies
with Cercariae indicae XXVI recorded that
the young forms developed in his experi-
mental goats by feeding with the above
cercariae were of Paramphistomum cervi;
however, in a later communication, the
same author [1938] changed his opinion
and pointed out that the cercariae in
question was the larval form of Cotylo-
phoron cotylophorum.
Thus there are more cases of amphis-
tomiasis caused by immature forms of
Cotylophoron species on record than by
Paramphistomum cervi or any other
amphistoma. There also appears to be
concensus of opinion regarding the adult
Cercariae indicae XXVI (Sewell, 1922).
In the present instance the mortali
among the goats has been presumed
have been caused by immature forms
Cotylophoron cotylophorum, since the on
adults seen in the rumen were of the
variety and the number of Fischoederi
elongatus encountered (about six) w
negligible. In the course of the routin
post-mortem examination of ruminant
the writer has found adults of Cotylopho
ron species more frequently than Para
phistomum species. Hence, the writer
inclined to think that the incidence of the
species Cotylophoron, at any rate in south
India may be much more than that
Paramphistomum, though further statis
tical evidence of this is necessary. It
hoped that such evidence will become
available shortly.
SUMMARY
An outbreak of amphistomiasis among
goats has been described from Madras and
the cause has been provisionally determing
ed to be the immature forms of Cotylo
phoron cotylophorum.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is indebted to Dr G. D.
Bhalerao for his help in the preparation
of this paper, also to Mr Rajendran
assistant to the Lecturer in Hygiene of the
madras Veterinary College, for having
placed at the disposal of the writer the
material concerned in this outbreak.
REFERENCES
Bennett, H. J. (1936). Illinois biol. Monogr. 14, 1-119
Chatterji, R. C. (1931). Zool. Anz. 95, 177-79
Chatterji, R. C. (1938). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. India,
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LeRoux, P. L. (1930). 16th Rep. Dir. vet. Ser. and Am
Ind. Union of S. Afri. 243-253
Pande, P. G. (1933). Indian J. vet. Sci
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Rao, M.A.N. and Ayyar L. S. P. (1932).
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Sewell, R.8. (1922). Indian J. med. Res. 10 Suppl. Na
1, 69-74
Srivastava, H. D. (1938). Indian
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Vaidyanathan, S. N. (1941). Indian J. vet. Sc
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