RAM
NARAIN
MOHAN
189
Some were found prostrate and comatose; their temperature was within normal limits and blood
smears revealed nothing of significance. Most of these died within three to four days of arriving
in Calcutta ; in others the course was more protracted.
POST-MORTEM
There was general emaciation and various parasites were found, such as Haemonchus contortus,
Oesophagostomes, Cysticercus tenuicollis, Gongylonema pulchrum, Cotylophoron cotylophorum.
Oestrus
ocis larvae were present, often in large numbers, in the nasal cavity and in the paranasal (especially
frontal) sinuses but none was found actually lodged in the brain or in the cranial cavity. Coenurus
cerebralis was not found. In two cases brownish-red mottling, and in one case ecchymotic haemorrha-
ges were found in the brain tissue. A few cases of suspicious fatty changes in the liver were also
seen. Of the 13 uteri examined, 11 were gravid, the foetuses being usually past midterm.
DIAGNOSIS
No bacteriological or biological transmission experiments could be carried out. Histopatholo-
gical examination of two brains showed no noteworthy abnormalities.
DISCUSSION
The measures which were adopted and which reduced the mortality to almost nil in subsequent
batches were (1) purchasing of healthy-looking non-pregnant sheep only, (2) proper feeding, watering
and general care during transport, (3) suitable housing facilities and nourishing feed provided on
arrival at Calcutta. The syndrome of nervous symptoms in some cases, when considered along
with the fact that quite a few pregnant sheep were affected, led us to suspect pregnancy toxaemia,
but due to lack of confirmatory evidence, it is not possible to be dogmatic on the point. Other
possibilities such as hypocalcaemia, hookworms, etc. were
o considered. Elder [1942] states that
hypocalcaemia may cause death after driving or travelling long distances or yarding for a long
period without food. The fact that improvement in feeding reduced the mortality shows that the
cause was some metabolic disturbance due to temporary enforced fasting and its cumulative effects.
Franklin and MacGregor [1944], while investigating the causes of the death of merino rams after
long journeys by rail, found that the rams on arrival have inflex appearance, depressed and fickle
appetite with loss of condition and a characteristic stance with back arched, the hind legs fairly well
forward beneath the body and the head held low and disinclination to move. They concluded that
adequate roughage and preliminary education in trough feeding would assist rams to withstand the
conditions of transport including the primary and secondary effects of unavoidable periods of
fasting during transit.
In an experiment in which a group of 100 rams was fed for a period of 10 days on a mixture
of chaff and concentrates before being trucked, all of them arrived at their destination in excellent
condition after a journey of 17 days. This sustained the belief that hypocalcaemia does not play
a major part in the syndrome but it is possible that some of the sporadic cases which occur in the
trucks may result from acute hypocalcaemia or so-called transit tetany. Franklin and Reid [1944]
state that care should be exercised in feeding linseed nuts as in some cases sheep may arrive in a
healthy condition yet by consuming these in large quantities a sufficient amount of HCN may be
produced to cause death.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The writer is grateful to Major G. Williamson, Animal Husbandry Commissioner with the
Government of India, for many helpful suggestions and for editing the paper.
REFERENCES
Elder, H. M. (1942). The Journal of Dept. of Agriculture, Australia, 40, 418
Franklin, M.C. and MacGregor, C. H. (1944). Aust. vet. J. 20, 328
Franklin, M. C. and Reid, R. L. (1944). Aust. vet. J. 20, 332
MGIPC—M—III-1-7—5-6-17—520.