11
(2) RINDERPEST.
Determination of differences in susceptibility
to Rinderpest,
etc.—As
a result of circulation of printed temperature and observation chart to field
staff eliciting information on the reaction of G.T.V. among previously
unvaccinated cattle and buffaloes, the response though poor, the following
observations were made : —
(1) Heavy reaction extending up to 69 per cent. of the inoculated animals
was noted when the ampoule of vaccine was used first from a fresh brew.
(2) In the same locality, the ninth ampoule of the same brew and used
on the 9th day, resulted in 32 per cent. reactors.
(3) There did not seem to be a gradual decline on the percentage of
reactors with the length of time. Such as, the operations which were
undertaken on groups of animals on each day commencing from the 29th
September and ending on the 7th October, the percentage of reactors
among animals in the respective groups on each day commencing from the
29th was 69, 48, 48, 53, 40, 49, 50, 32.
(4) Reaction in general varied from 20-40 per cent., showing a tendency
towards rise during the April-June and fall during December-January.
(5) Out of six experimental animals inoculated with standard dosage
locally manufactured G.T.V. (Brew 82) only one animal showed no great
change in condition beyond a slight dullness and depressed appetite on the
next day after vaccination. This condition and the temperature, which was
101 .6 on the first day, became normal and continued up to the 9th day of
observation. In the remaining five animals the reactions were, however,
very marked, with rise in temperature up to 105 .6, complete stoppage of
milk yield, well marked dullness, loose stool, and eventually special A.R.
Serum was given at the rate of 75 c.c. to all of them on the 5th day. The
conditions gradually returned to "normal" on the 4th day after serum
inoculation.
(6) Regarding "Zonal" disposition on the susceptibility of Rinderpest,
the hill cattle, as usual, in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong
and borders of Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim were found very susceptible to
R.P., and inoculation with G.T.V., whenever undertaken, was simultaneous-
ly given suitable dosage of special A.R. Serum.
(7) Among the plain cattle the survey on zonal basis is under progress.
Up-to-date information, however, seems to indicate that low grade reaction
was observed in 43 per cent. cattle in Murshidabad district and nearly 60
per cent. in some centres in Bankura and Midnapore districts. In the
24-Parganas district the reaction varied from locality to locality on a wide
range from 21 to 47 per cent.
Cutaneous
Rinderpest.—Cutaneous
eruptions were observed in five
animals including buffaloes in an area where Rinderpest was prevailing.
The animals at the initial stage after suffering for 5-6 days from Rinderpest,
developed cutaneous eruptions on the whole body. The scabs which were
collected from a buffalo on the 23rd November 1948, were emulsified in
normal saline solution and injected subcutaneously 4 c.c. each (2 c.c. each
side of the shoulder) on three bull-calves from 2 to 4 years age on the 29th
November 1948. Reaction was watched up to 8th day after inoculation.
Beyond showing a marked rise in temperature up to 107ºF and which persisted
up to the 7th day, the animal did not show any other symptom of R.P. In
the other two experimental animals, the temperature varied from 103º to
104ºF up to the 8th day after inoculation. No other noticeable symptom
of R.P. was observed.