SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE IMMUNIZATION OF SHEEP AND GOATS
AGAINST RINDERPEST
By H. K. LALL, B. SC., M.R.C.V.S., Government Livestock Farm, Hissar
(Received for publication on 4 July 1946)
O UTBREAKS of rinderpest have been observed in sheep and goats from time to time in various
parts of India by Bawa [1940], Chowdhry [1941] and various other workers (personal communica-
tion). A rise in the incidence of the disease in these animals occurred during recent years. It was
considered that that was due to an increase in the animal traffic to various battle fronts in and outside
India. Ten outbreaks were recorded in the year 1943-44 in Ambala Division of the Punjab alone,
causing very heavy mortality. Cattle were not affected in these outbreaks. It became apparent
that some definite steps were required to devise methods of immunization. Anti-rinderpest serum
has been tried by various field workers, with varying results in affected animals but it did not prove
very effective in controlling the outbreak at Hissar. Bawa [ibid] reported that in goats the use of
anti-serum alone was not very satisfactory, specially because of the short duration of immunity.
In sheep, however, Bawa [1939] reported that the use of goatis was a success as a prophylactic against
rinderpest. Srikantiah [1934] and Viswanathan [1937] have mentioned the use of anti-rinderpest
serum in sheep as an essential adjunct to goatis to avoid severe reaction, but Viswanathan reports
3.6 per cent mortality from vaccination, in spite of the serum. These authors do not mention the
breed of sheep used in their experiments. Gopal Singh (personal communication) tried goatis on
sheep and goats as a prophylanis in face of outbreaks of rinderpest in Gurgoan district. With a
view to produce immunity against rinderpest, some experiments were conducted at Hissar and the
following observations were made.
In this note the term ' goatis ' has been used for goat tissue vaccine; a mild reaction was
determined by the fact that the animal had only a thermal reaction but normal in its behaviour
and feeding and a severe one, by high temperature, loss of appetite, dullness, sluggish movement,
congested mucous membranes conjunctivitis, etc. A thermal reaction means a rise in the temperature
as compared to the normal temperature under similar conditions.
(A) GOATS
It is well known that the goats used for the production of goatis show severe reaction on in-
oculation of the goat virus. It is also believed that if they are allowed to live, they succumb to the
disease, or, in cases of recovery, they remain emaciated [Saunders, 1936]. A series of experiments
were performed to produce immunity in sheep and goats by use of goatis alone or its following
modifications.
(1) serum and goatis mixed for half an hour,
(2) goatis followed by a dose of serum 24 hours later,
(3) goatis immediately followed by serum.
The goatis in all the experiments was obtained from the Punjab Veterinary College, per messenger
and efforts were always made to use it immediately after its receipt. In any case it was kept in
ice till required for use. The number of the virus (i.e. the number of the goat at the Punjab Veterinary
College, from which the goat virus was procured) and the date of arrival and despatch were noted in
all the experiments. The serum used was the 'ordinary' serum obtained from the Imperial Veterinary
Research Institute.
Experiment No. 1
Batch No. of the virus . . . . . . . . .
Date of preparation of the virus
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Date of experiment . . . . . . . .
157
28 October, 1944
1 November, 1944
11
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