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236 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, III
In 1926 when the drug was placed on the market a sufficient stock of the
drug was obtained for further experiments which were conducted in two forms :
(1) naganol alone; (2) naganol plus tartar emetic. In the present section, it is
proposed only to deal with the results obtained with the first form of treatment,
whilst a separate section will be devoted to a consideration of the results obtained
by the application of the naganol-emetic combination.
A total of 10 animals were treated with naganol alone. These comprised 5
camels, 3 ponies and 2 dogs and recovery was obtained in all excepting 2 ponies,
in which, in spite of the treatment, the disease progressed to a fatal issue. Three
of the camels had been previously treated with sodium antimony tartrate, but
had failed to withstand the drug.
While these trials were in progress, Edwards [1926] at Muktesar, introduced
a form of treatment with naganol which had for its object the sterilization of
the cerebro-spinal system simultaneously with that of the circulating blood, it
being claimed that this method of using the drug was particularly indicated in the
case of animals in an advanced stage of the infection. The routine method, as
developed by Edwards, was as follows:—
I. (a) Inject 50 c. c. of a 10 per cent. solution of " Bayer 205 " intravenous-
ly, per 1,000 lbs. body weight.
(If the horse is in very low condition, administer one-half this dose, and give
the remaining half a week later, or as soon as the horse shows appreciable improve-
ment in condition.)
(b) Inject 20 c. c. of a 0.1 per cent. solution of " Bayer 205 " intrathecally,
per 1,000 lbs. body weight.
(The solution for intrathecal injection is made by taking 1 c.c. of the solution
for intravenous injection, and adding sterile water or normal saline solution to
make up 100 c.c. of dilution).
II. Fifteen days after I. Repeat I (b) only.
III. Fifteen days after II. Repeat I (a) (i.e. full intravenous dose), and I(b).
No further medical treatment was required. Careful attention must be given
to restoration in bodily condition, by good feeding and grooming combined with
exercise.
This method was given a fairly extensive trial at the Sohawa Laboratory, but
had eventually to be abandoned, in view of the impracticability of carrying out the
technique with the aid of the small staff usually available for work of this kind
under field conditions in India.
SHORT HISTORY OF SURRA TREATMENT IN THE PUNJAB
237
Some trials have also been carried out to test the efficacy of the single
injection method of treatment with naganol for surra infected camels. A total of
140 camels were treated by a single injection of 4 grammes of naganol, which
resulted in 16 relapses being reported within one month. On account of the more
favourable results claimed for this method by the military authorities a further
extended trial is contemplated.
TREATMENT OF SURRA BY MEANS OF NAGANOL COMBINED WITH TARTAR EMETIC.
It is desirable to mention at this stage that a certain amount of overlapping
was unavoidable between the different categories of experiments reported upon in
this paper. The order in which the chapters are arranged does not bear any definite
relationship to the chronological sequence in which the actual methods of treatment
were adopted from time to time although in a report of this kind which purports
to be a historical résumé of surra treatment in the Punjab, it would have been in
accord with the customary procedure to deal chronologically with the developments
that led to the present day method of treating surra in this province. On the other
hand, there is an obvious advantage of consolidating and grouping these develop-
ments under appropriate headings so as to bring into prominence the results
obtained with any one of these forms of treatment.
Initially, the object of the trials with the naganol-tartar emetic combination
was to test the possibility of reducing the cost of treatment with naganol alone.
In the preliminary trials, 3 camels and 8 equines were subjected to this form of
treatment and recovery was obtained in 6 of these cases.
The foregoing results seemed sufficiently encouraging to warrant some further
trials with this form of treatment on a larger scale. Accordingly, the curative
value of the treatment was tested upon 17 ponies and 26 camels, with the following
results:—
1. Fourteen out of the 17 ponies were cured and discharged, three of these
having been previously unsuccessfully treated with naganol alone.
2. Out of the 26 camels, 22 were cured, 1 relapsed 25 days after the comple-
tion of the treatment and the remaining 3 died. The recoveries included 8 animals
that had been previously unsuccessfully treated by the " Cross method ". The
following conclusions were arrived at as the result of these experiments :—
(1) There was a possibility of chronic cases being cured by this method; (2)
there was no risk of untoward effects when the combined - drugs were
administered during the paroxysm of the disease; (3) the beneficial
238 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, III
effects of the drugs, as evidenced by an improvement in the general
condition of the animals, were noticeable even during the progress of the
treatment.
While the foregoing experiments were in progress at Sohawa the combined
naganol-emetic treatment was also being subjected to an official trial at the
Sheikhupura surra centre. Thirty-four ponies were selected for this trial and re-
covery was obtained in as many as 11 animals, although the majority of the cases
were in an advanced stage of the disease. These results were distinctly encouraging
so that attention was henceforward exclusively confined to perfecting this method
of treatment.
In 1927-28, the efficacy of this method was further tested on 142 camels, and
out of these 137 were cured, 4 died while under treatment and 1 was destroyed on
account of a fractured leg. Reports received 3 months later from the owners of
these 137 camels showed that, with the exception of one animal that had died from
causes other than surra, all were alive and performing normal work.
In the same year, 114 ponies at four centres were likewise subjected to this
method of treatment, and out of these, 100 were discharged as cured.
The year 1928-29 was a comparatively dry year and cases of surra were, there-
fore, not so numerous as during previous years. Only 31 camels and 109 ponies
arrived for treatment at different centres in the province, and out of these 27
camels and 102 ponies were cured and discharged, 2 camels died while under treat-
ment and 7 ponies were sold by their owners before the completion of the treatment.
According to reports received at a later date from their owners, all of the 129 animals
discharged as cured were alive and the majority had gained in weight.
In view of equally successful results from a further series of experiments on the
same lines, the following method of treatment was ultimately drawn up for routine
use under field conditions in the Punjab and is still being adhered to.
Intravenous injections to be carried out at intervals of four or five days in the
following approximate dosage :—
1 per cent. solution of naganol . . . . . . .
1 per cent. solution of tartar emetic . . . . . . .
1.5 per cent. solution of tartar emetic . . . . . . .
1.5 per cent. solution of naganol . . . . . . .
2 per cent. solution of tartar emetic . . . . . . .
2.5 per cent. solution of tartar emetic . . . . . . .
2 per cent. solution of naganol . . . . . . .
c.c.
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
SHORT HISTORY OF SURRA TREATMENT IN THE PUNJAB
239
The increase in the dosage is not a fixed one, but depends upon the condition
of the animal, and symptoms, if any, caused by the previous dose. The full course
of treatment occupies approximately one month.
During the years 1929-34, a total of 13,561 animals were treated at surra
centres by the naganol-emetic method as outlined above, with the following results.
It has been recently computed that 57 horses and 53 camels were definitely traceable
as relapsed cases out of the total number treated.
Surra season
1929-30 . {
1930-31 . {
1931-32 . {
1932-33 . {
1933-34 . {
Number of animals
treated
Camels
.
99
Horses
.
386
Camels . 470
Horses . 1,435
Camels . 676
Horses . 1,965
Camels . 616
Horses . 1,510
Camels . 3,623
Horses . 2,781
Number of animals
cured
Camels
.
93
Horses . 355
Camels} 1751
Horses
Camels } . 2379
Horses
Camels } . 1914
Horses
Camels . 3584
Horses . 2595
Number of animals
that died while
under treatment
Camels .
6
Horses
. 31
Camels . 15
Horses . 139
Camels } 262
Horses
Camels } 212
Horses
Camels . 40
Horses . 185
Remarks
In the case of those animals which were discharged as cured, reports received
from their owners showed that they were practically all alive and in good condition :
some months after treatment and as a further check on the results of surra treat-
ment at the different surra centres regular inspections of cured cases are being made
by the Director of Veterinary Services in the course of his tours.
In view of these strikingly successful results, the naganol-emetic treatment had
rapidly gained in popularity and in the surra season of 1933-34, as many as 39
centres for surra treatment were open in different parts of the province.
It will be observed that the schedule of treatment, as outlined above, involves
a total of seven injections spread over 31 days. In view of the disadvantages of
this prolonged, although otherwise very effective, method of treatment, efforts are
being made to reduce the number of injections. Some preliminary trials have
already been carried out in this direction and although the results of these offer
E
240 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, III
some little encouragement no definite conclusion can be arrived at until a large
number of natural surra cases have been treated.
At this point, a reference may be made to the view expressed by certain
workers that the injection of a trypanocidal drug such as naganol results in the
parasites migrating to the cerebro-spinal fluid where they may remain in a sort of
safe retreat until the effects of the drug in the circulating blood have passed away.
This is believed to occur when naganol is introduced into the circulation, the
molecules of this drug being regarded as too heavy to be capable of penetrating into
the spinal canal. In so far as the combined naganol-emetic method of treatment
is concerned, however, its application was found definitely to bring about a steri-
lization of the cerebro-spinal fluid as judged by the results of eleven experiments.
During the last surra season ending December 1933, an investigation, on a
small scale, into the possibilities of employing naganol as a prophylactic against
surra in horses was carried out in some very well known infected villages in the
Sheikhupura district. The procedure adopted for the investigation was to select
horses for prophylactic treatment from as many different villages and from as wide
an area as possible to ensure every likelihood of a sufficient number of the protected
horses being exposed to certain infection. In accordance with plan thirteen villages,
owning 617 horses, were selected and from these a total number of 52 horses were
given protective inoculations, namely, four in each village. The latter received
injections according to four categories :—
(1) Monthly intravenous injections of naganol 3 grammes for the duration of
the surra season, six months July to December.
(2) Monthly intravenous injections of naganol one gramme only for the dura-
tion of the surra season, six months July to December.
(3) Monthly intravenous injection of naganol 3 grammes for the first half of
the surra season only, three months July to September.
(4) Monthly intravenous injection of naganol one gramme for the first half
of the surra season only, three months July to September.
As evidence of the prevalence of surra during this season it has been ascertain-
ed that as many as 120 out of the 617 horses in these selected villages naturally
contracted surra. In one village 32 out of 60 horses contracted surra and in
another 23 out of 40.
Out of the 52 horses selected for experiment, seven failed to complete the
course of protective inoculations prescribed as their owners were unwilling to conti-
nue with the experiment. Of the remaining 45 horses, only one developed surra
28 days after the third monthly injection of naganol 3 grammes. There were also
SHORT HISTORY OF SURRA TREATMENT IN THE PUNJAB
241
two doubtful cases which died of paralysis during the period—the first fifty-six days
after receiving the third monthly injection of three grammes and the second within
two days after the third monthly injection of naganol one gramme.
The remainder passed through the surra season without infection. There has
been no definite evidence to show that either of the two cases of paralysis were
affected with surra or were adversely affected by the protective inoculations.
If, therefore, the last surra season of 1933 may be regarded as a typical one of
surra incidence, the conclusion to be drawn from this investigation is that there is
some probable merit in this method of prophylaxis by means of naganol in the
dosage employed. It is proposed to carry out a further investigation on the same
lines during the surra season of 1934.
E 2
A NOTE ON BOVINE TRYPANOSOMIASIS IN HYDERABAD
STATE.
BY
M. R. MAHAJAN, M.R.C.V.S.,
Veterinary Investigation Officer, H. E. H. the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad.
(Received for publication on 8th February 1934.)
(With Plate XVIII.)
This condition has recently been brought to light in the forest covered district
of Asifabad of this State. The two areas affected are in Sirpoor taluq, comprising
the villages of Muthanpet, Lonvelly, Arelli and Kanky; and Luxettipet, Rubanpalli,
Dhorpalli and Jogiapet in Luxettipet taluq.
In November 1932, some outbreaks were reported as anthrax from the above
areas, but blood smear examination revealed them to be trypanosomiasis.
The general impression in India has been that cattle (especially buffaloes) acted
as a reservoir only for trypanosomes. Hutyra and Marek report that outbreaks of
an acute form with a high mortality are met with.
Stirling [1927] mentions regarding a severe outbreak of this disease in the
western districts of Central Provinces and Berar.
Gopalkrishnan [1927] also refers to outbreaks of this disease in the Central
Provinces.
As the condition in Asifabad appeared to be acute, investigation was under-
taken during September 1933.
The mortality in the year 1932 is said to be about 300 cattle, mostly bullocks.
Two ponies are also reported to have died.
The disease usually occurs during the early winter months when biting flies are
plentiful and the plough-bullocks are worked hard.
Blood smears of 297 cattle, 2 ponies and 3 dogs were examined during this
investigation.
An important point noted has been that the disease affects mostly (90 per
cent.) working bullocks.
The specimens of biting flies collected and identified are as follows :—
(i) Tabanus tenens.
(ii) Tabanus bicallosus.
(iii) Tabanus sp. (?)
(iv) Musca crassirostris.
( 242 )
BOVINE TRYPANOSOMIASIS IN HYDERABAD STATE
243
Others flies are:—
(i) Hæmatopota sp. (?)
(ii) Lyperosia exigua.
(iii) Sp. of Musca and Sarcophaga.
The ticks, collected from animals affected with trypanosomiasis, are :—
(i) Hyalomma ægyptium.
(ii) Hæmaphysalis bispinosa.
The blood smears from some of the crushed ticks were found negative for
trypanosomes.
AN OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE.
This was seen in Lonvelly on 22nd September 1933. Thirty-seven cases were
reported from this village and Arelli (close by) from the middle of September to the
end of November 1933. Of these, 12 were found positive for trypanosomiasis by
microscopic examination. The following table sums up in brief the attacks and
deaths:—
Bullocks . . . . . . . .
Cows
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Buffaloes . . . . . . . .
Total .
Number attacked.
31
3
3
37
Deaths.
28
3
2
33
For a period after infection the animal appears to be quite healthy, feeds and
works normally. Therefore the owners work them as usual and only become aware
of the disease when the stage of fatality sets in.
In the course of routine blood smear examination four cases were detected, one
of which showed no signs of illness even the temperature being 101.4° F. but the
peripheral blood showed about one trypanosome per ten fields. Another case
showed dullness and mucous discharge from the eyes, but ruminated. The temper-
ature was 105.4° F. and the blood revealed 20 to 30 trypanosomes per field.
The apparently healthy but affected animal is used for ploughing and fatigue
following acts as a predisposing cause in bringing about the onset of the fatal stage.
In this stage the animal stops to feed and ruminate, is disinclined to move, sways
the whole body backwards and forwards and foams at the mouth. The muzzle is
dry and hot and there is discharge from the eyes and nose. Dullness and fever are
244 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, III
apparent. There is hard breathing and excessive urination. Only one case under
treatment showed shooting diarrhœa.
Within three to four hours of these symptoms the animal usually goes down,
never to get up again. The eyes become semi-closed, coma sets in, the head and
neck is either extended forward or turned to the body and the end is soon
approached (Plate XVIII).
Some animals which took suddenly ill after the day's plough work were found
dead in the fields on the following morning.
Only the first three cases remained alive for a period of about 4 days. It may
be their life was extended due to the treatment undertaken. Once the fatal
symptoms were exhibited the case did not last for more than 48 hours.
Microscopic examination of blood reveals infection long before the actual fatal
stage occurs. Examination of blood smears was carried out at different stages of
the disease and it appears that the trypanosomes are rare at first, then they
increase, again become rare, and completely disappear about an hour or so after
death.
POST-MORTEM APPEARANCES.
The cases generally showed lobular pneumonia with adhesions to the peri-
cardium and thoracic wall. The bronchial lymph glands showed deep congestion.
Petichæ were noted throughout the serous membranes, and on heart and aboma-
sum. In some cases only petichæ were observed.
The smears of heart blood, lung, spleen, liver, kidneys, cerebro-spinal fluid and
brain, taken after death, did not reveal trypanosomes.
HISTO-PATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE TISSUES.
" 1. Lungs and bronchial lymph glands.
Lungs reveal a very acute type of pneumonia and large number of necrotic
foci. The interlobular septa show marked distention due to accumulation of
inflammatory exudates. Numerous diphtheroids were seen in the necrotic zones.
The bronchial lymph glands show intense congestion only.
2. Brain and spinal cord.
The piece of brain and spinal cord do not show any abnormality. No surra
parasites were seen in the sections prepared from these tissues."
PLATE XVIII.
Case No. 6. This cow died three hours after the photograph was taken.
Case No. 12. This bullock died an hour after the photograph Was taken.
BOVINE TRYPANOSOMIASIS IN HYDERABAD STATE
245
Treatment was tried on three animals in the fatal stage, giving 25 c.c. of a
10% solution of Bayer 205 intravenously for an adult (approximate body weight
being 500 pounds) with the result that only the trypanosomes disappeared from the
peripheral blood but the patients succumbed.
Four cases detected in the early stage by microscopic examination recovered
with the above treatment.
A buffalo calf received 50 c.c. of 1% solution of Bayer 205 intravenously.
Sixteen hours later trypanosomes were still present in the peripheral blood and an
injection of 10% solution was given and the animal completely cured.
It was noted that after treatment with 10% solution of Bayer 205 intravenous-
ly, the trypanosomes disappeared from the peripheral blood in about 16 to 18 hours
after injection.
SUMMARY.
1. The existence of bovine trypanosomiasis in Asifabad district of this State
was recorded for the first time in November 1932. The attacks were so very acute
that the outbreaks were mistaken for anthrax.
2. The 90% of attacks are in bullocks, and mortality is cent. per cent.
3. The species of flies and ticks collected from the affected areas are :—
(i) Flies of Tabanus species, and Musca crassirostris.
(ii) Cattle ticks—Hyalomma ægyptium, and Hæmaphysalis bispinosa.
4. Symptoms and post-mortem lesions are dealt with.
5. Bayer 205 in 10% solution given intravenously is found effective before the
fatal onset occurs.
Further work to find out whether the species of trypanosoma concerned is
Trypanosoma evansi or some other species shall be taken up shortly in collaboration
with the Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar.
Acknowledgments. I take this opportunity to express my thanks to all con-
cerned, especially to Mr. Aliuddin Ahmed, Assistant Veterinary Surgeon, who work-
ed hard in this connection.
My thanks are also due to the Director, Imperial Institute of Veterinary
Research, Muktesar, for his kindly examining the materials submitted.
I am grateful in particular to Mr. B. K. Badami, Officiating Director, Civil
Veterinary Department, Hyderabad-Deccan, for the various helpful hints that he
gave.
246 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, III
REEERENCES.
Gopalkrishnan (1927). Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference of Central Provinces Veterinary
Association.
Hutyra and Marek. Special Pathology & Therapeutics, Vol. I, page 1033.
Stirling, R. F. (1927). Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference of the Central Provinces and
Berar Veterinary Association.
ON THE NEMATODE CAUSING STOMACH TUMOURS OF THE
INDIAN CROCODILE, CROCODILUS PALUSTRIS.
BY
G. D. BHALERAO, M.Sc.,
Helminthologist, Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar-Kumaun.
(Received for publication on 10th July 1934.)
(With four text-figures.)
Through the courtesy of Major C. S. Nuttall, the Officer Commanding, Military
Veterinary Hospital, Jullundur, Punjab an opportunity was afforded to examine
worms from a tumour found in the stomach of a crocodile shot at Jullundur. The
worms on examination proved to be Multicæcum agile Wedl, 1862. Apart from the
morphological interest of the parasite, particularly in respect of its alimentary
canal, which led Baylis [1923] to create a new genus for it, it possesses considerable
interest from the point of view of geographical distribution. Up to the present
moment it has been recorded only from Egypt, this being therefore the first
occasion of its record from a country outside Africa. Its original description was
given by Wedl as early as 1862. Subsequent to this date Baylis [1923] published a
short description of this parasite. It appears from both these accounts that the
material at the disposal of the authors was very scanty. The present opportunity
is therefore taken to supply some more data regarding the parasite based on the
observations of about half-a-dozen males and an equal number of females at various
stages of development and to revise in some detail the previous description of this
species.
( 247 )
248 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, III
FIG. 1. Multicæcum agile. Head, dorsal view.
FIG. 2. Multicæcum agile. Head, lateral view.
MULTICÆCUM AGILE FROM STOMACH TUMOURS OF THE INDIAN CROCODILE
249
FIG. 3. Multicæcum agile. Posterior end of male, lateral view.
250 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ IV, III
FIG. 4. Multicæcum agile. Spicule with gubernaculum.