NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
NEMATODES PARASITIC IN GOATS AT
MUKTESAR
165
Oesophagoslomum asperum Railliet and Henry, 1913.
This species was recorded for the first time from the Panama Canal Zone by
Railliet and Henry [1913]. Subsequent to this date Goodey [1924] recorded its
presence in China and the Federated Malay States. The writer has obtained these
specimens along with the species O. columbianum and occasionally with O. venulosum
from the cæcum of hill goats (Capra sibirica) at Muktesar. This is therefore the
first record of the species in India.
Gongylonema verrucosum (Giles, 1892).
This species has, up to the present, been recorded by several writers only from
the sheep, ox and zebu in India and South Africa. It has not so far been recovered
from goats in any country. The writer during the course of the last two years
obtained this species on several occasions from hill goats (Capra sibirica) at
Muktesar. This is therefore the first record in the world of this parasite from
goats.
REFERENCES.
Baylis, H. A. (1929). A Manual of Helminthology. London, xi+303 pp.
Boulenger, C. L. (1921). Parasitol. 12, 341—349.
Goodey. T. (1924). Journ. Helm. 2, 97-110.
*Issaitschikow, I. M., & Rajewsky, S. A. (1928). Trud. Gosud. Int. Exp. Vet. Moscow 5,
21—25.
Purvis, G. B. (1931). Vet. Rec. 11, 528—529.
Railliet, A., & Henry, A. (1913). Bull. Soc. Path. Exot. 6, 506 -511.
Rajewsky, S. A. (1929). Zeit. fur Infektionskrankhider Haustierc 35, 40—52.
Sandground, J. H. (1928). Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 39, 131-150.
Thwaite, J. W. (1927). Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 21, 427-466.
Yorke, W., & Maplestone, P. A. (1926). The Nematode parasites of vertebrates, Londen,
X + 536 pp.
* The original reference was not accessible for consultation.
ON TWO UNRECORDED NEMATODES FROM THE ABOMASUM
OF CATTLE IN INDIA*
BY
G. D. BHALERAO, M.Sc.,
Helminthologist, Imperial Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar.
(Received for publication on 24th March 1933.)
(With eleven text figures.)
The worms dealt with in this paper are two nematodes which have been col-
lected on several occasions from the abomasum of cattle at Muktesar. The cattle
in all cases were the hill bulls that are used at this Institute for maintaining the
rinderpest virus. It is a matter of some surprise that in spite of the common
occurrence of these worms no record of their existence has yet been made from
any part of India. The present opportunity is therefore taken to supply a descrip-
tion of these very interesting specimens.
Capillaria bilobata n. sp.
The worms were found in the contents of the abomasum and were not attached
to its walls. The worms are thread-like being much thinner than sewing cotton,
increasing gradually in thickness from the anterior to the posterior end without
any marked increase in the post-œsophageal region. The œsophageal region is
shorter than the posterior portion of the body. On the dorsal and ventral side of
the body are situated the bacillary bands which are narrow both anteriorly and
posteriorly, but in the middle portion of the body for a considerable distance they
increase so much in width that they meet with each other and become continuous.
In some cases the bands remain separate throughout the length of the body and
in others lateral bands have been observed. These variations go to prove that the
character of the bacillary bands is not of much diagnostic value. The bands are
more granular than the rest of the body. Small wart-like tubercles are situated on
these bands and these increase in prominence posteriorly where they are somewhat
wider apart from one another. They again diminish in size in the last portion of
the body. These warts on the bands give the worm a somewhat tuberculated
appearance, otherwise the cuticle is smooth.
The cephalic extremity (Fig. 1) is smooth and rounded. The lips are very
inconspicuous. No buccal capsule is present, the mouth opening directly leads
* Paper read before the Medical and Veterinary Section of the Indian Science Congress, 1933,
Patna.
( 166 )
NEMATODES FROM ABOMASUM OF CATTLE IN INDIA
167
into the minute œsophagus. This latter is a narrow tube running through a chain
of cells. Anteriorly for a distance of nearly 0.43—0.47* the cells through which
the œsophagus passes are not clearly distinguished, thus somewhat resembling a
syncytial mass. Behind this portion the œsophageal cells are small, but more
posteriorly the cells get larger (Fig. 2). One of the larger cells measured 0.24 ×
0.073. Occasionally interposed between the posterior cells are to be found
one or more larger cells. At the posterior end of the œsophagus are. seen two
or three pyriform glands of yellowish-brown colour. The intestine takes an
almost straight course and passes into a muscular rectum. The anus is situated
sub-terminally. In the male the rectum enlarges into the cloaca, in which also
opens the male genital duct.
Male.—These measure 10.1—16.5 in length and the maximum thickness which
is attained approximately at the posterior quarter of the body is 0.05—0.083. The
œsophagus is 5.2—8 long and 0.04—0.055 in thickness at its posterior end. The
nerve ring is situated at a distance of 0.173—0.177 from the anterior extremity.
The testis as well as the male genital duct take a straight course and extend
anteriorly almost as far as the posterior end of the œsophagus. A single spicule
is present (Fig. 3). This measures 0.19—0.24 in length and is 0.0065—0.01
broad at its anterior extremity. The spicule presents light transverse striations.
It is surrounded by a sheath which when everted measures 0.0585 × 0.03—0.087 ×
0.038. The sheath when everted appears to consist of two lobes, the terminal
one of which is like an inverted bell and the other is pear-shaped. A portion of
the latter is partially introduced into the former lobe. The sheath is quite smooth
without any striations or spines on it.
The posterior extremity (Fig. 4) has an ala on each side which measures
about 0.075 in length and 0.022 in breadth. The former is expanded into a bursa¬
like structure which is supported by four papillæ or peg-like processes, the lateral
two of which are stouter and divided at their extremity into two digitations and
the other two are situated between the former. This bursa-like expansion measures
0.048 × 0.027 approximately.
Female.—These measure 14—21.3 in length and their maximum thickness,
which is attained at about the middle of the post-œsophageal portions, is 0.072—
0.085. The posterior extremity (Fig. 7) is blunt and straight. The length of
the œsophagus is 6.5—9.4 and its breadth at the anterior end is 0.044—0.856. The
rectum is approximately 0.08—0.11 long and the anus is subterminal. The vulva
(Fig. 5) is situated at a distance of 0.055—0.075 behind the posterior end of
the œsophagus. The ovary commences at a distance of nearly 0.8 from the
* All measurements in millimeters.
168
INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, II
posterior end almost at the commencement of the rectum and proceeds anteriorly
for a distance of nearly 5. The oviduct is a very small and somewhat narrow tube
which enlarges into a broad uterus. As a rule very few ova are seen at the com-
mencement of the uterus to a distance of nearly 0.8. The part of the uterus that
follows contains a large number of ova which are packed to its utmost capacity.
In the last portion of the uterus the ova appear to be arranged in a line one
behind the other. This portion of the uterus is followed by a long muscular
vagina measuring 0.235- 0.254 in length. The eggs (Fig. 6) are lemon-shaped and
measure 0.033—0.053 × 0.014—0.021.
It will be evident from the above that these worms belong to the genus
Capillaria, Zeder, 1800. Several species of this genus have been recorded from
various hosts but only four of them have been known to be parasitic in domestic
ruminants up to the present time. Two of these, C. brevipes and C. longipes, were
first described by Ransom [1911] from the small intestine of sheep in the United
States. Schnyder [1906] recorded the species C. bovis from the ox in Switzerland
but he gave only the dimensions of the entire worms and those of the eggs in this
case. Morgan [1925] obtained only one female of this genus from the ox in Wales
which he found allied to C. bovis and C. loagipes, but he arrived at no conclusion
in regard to its identity. Recently a detailed description of the species C. bovis
has been supplied by Petrow and Orlow [1930]. Before giving any opinion in
regard to the identity of the specimens at my disposal it will be instructive to
compare with them in a tabular form the existing species of this genus from
domestic ruminants.
Male.
Length . .
Maximum thickness
Length of œsopha-
gus.
Length of spicule .
Spicular sheath .
Capillaria
longipes
Ransom,
1911.
11—13
0.06
4—5
1.2
Longer than
spicule, elon-
gated, with-
out spines.
Capillaria
brevipes
Ransom,
1911.
8—9
0.050
4
0.9
Longer than
spicule, elon-
gated, with-
out spines.
Capillaria
sp. Morgan,
1925.
..
..
..
..
..
Capillaria
bovis
Schnyder,
1906.
11.9—12
0.049—0.075
..
1.09
1.25 long,
longer than
spicule, with-
out spines.
Capillaria
bilobata
Bhalerao,
1933.
10.1—16.5
0.05—0.083
5.2—8
0.19—0.24
0.0585 long,
shorter than
spicule, bilo¬
bed, without
spines.
NEMATODES FROM ABOMASUM OF CATTLE IN INDIA
169
Length of lateral
alæ.
Female.
Length . .
Maximum thickness
Longth of œsopha-
gus.
Vulva from anterior
end.
Anus . . .
Eggs . . .
Capillaria
longipes
Ransom,
1911.
0.3
20—25.16
0.080—0.116
6—8.16
7—8.23
Subterminal.
0.045—0.054 ×
0.022—0.027
Capillaria
brevipes
Ransom,
1911.
0.2—0.3
12
0.060
. .
Behind œsoph-
agus end.
Terminal .
0.050 × 0.025
Capillaria
sp. Morgan,
1925.
. .
16.5
0.057
. .
. .
. .
0.047—0.050 ×
0.022.
Capillaria
bovis
Schnyder,
1906.
0.29
18—21
0.078—0.095
6.68—8.12
6.9—8.3
Subterminal.
0.050—0.052 ×
0.028—0.070
Capillaria
bilobuta
Bhalerao,
1933.
0.075
14—21.3
0.072—0.085
6.5—9.4
6.555—9.475
Subterminal.
0.033—0.53
× 0.014—
0.021
It will be seen from the above Table that the females of my species are not
very different from those of the other species with which it is compared. The
males, however, are very striking. Although they agree more or less in dimensions
the accessory male genital organs present some salient points of difference. The
spicule and the lateral alæ are much smaller. The spicular sheath is much
smaller than the spicule and not larger than it as in the other species. It
is moreover bilobed instead of tubular as it occurs in the other forms. These
points of difference being of sufficient importance to justify the creation of a new
species, the name bilobata is proposed for it, signifying the bi-lobed nature of the
spicular sheath.
Specific diagnosis.—Capillaria : Male.—Length 10.1—16.5, thickness 0.05—
0.083. Œsophagus 5.2—-8 long. Spicule striate, 0.19—0.24 long. Spicular
sheath consists of a terminal lobe which is like an inverted bell and another pear-
shaped, lobe. Posterior extremity alate and expanded into a bursa-like structure.
Female.—Length 14—21.3, thickness 0.072—0.085. Œsophagus 6.5—9.4 long.
Vulva 0.055—0.075 behind the posterior end of the œsophagus. Eggs lemon-
shaped, measuring 0.033—0.053 ×0.014—0.021.
Host— Cattle.
Location.—Abomasum.
Locality.—Muktesar (U. P.).
170
INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, II
Hæmonchus similis Travassos, 1914.
This species has so far been recorded by Travassos [1914 and 1921] from cattle
only in Brazil and Europe. There exists up to the present time no record of its
presence in the orient. This therefore forms the first occasion on which it is being
recorded from the latter region. On comparing the material at my disposal with
the description given by Travassos [1921] it was found that my specimens differ
in some respects from the original material, particularly in regard to the position
of the vulva, the terminal portions of the female genitalia and to a little extent the
nature of the rays supporting the dorsal asymmetrical lobe of the bursa: the other
points of difference being of minor character. All these points of difference may
have been due to observations on a limited amount of material at the disposal
of Travassos. The present opportunity is therefore taken to describe in full
detail the material at my disposal.
The worms are small, cylindrical, thin and brownish red in colour. On many
occasions they were found associated with Hæmonchus contortus but an infection
exclusively due to these worms was not infrequent. The cuticle in both the sexes
is finely striated transversely and longitudinal striations as many as 26 in number
were also noticed. The cervical papillæ are quite prominent and pyramidal. The
excretory pore and the nerve ring are situated almost at the same level, anterior
to the cervical papillæ. The œsophagus is somewhat dilated posteriorly and
appears to be club-shaped. The mouth is without any lips. The buccal capsule
is extremely small and has a small lancet arising from its dorsal aspect as in
H. contortus.
Male.—The anterior extremity of the male is attenuated. They measure 8.025
—10.22 in length and the maximum thickness which is attained somewhat in front
of the bursa is 0.196—0.242. The cervical papillæ are situated at a distance of
0.286—0.36 from the anterior extremity. The excretory pore is at a distance of
0.237—0.278 from the cephalic end. The nerve ring is at the same level as the
excretory pore.
The bursa (Fig. 8) is trilobed, the dorsal lobe is small and asymmetrical and
the lateral lobes are fairly large. The dorsal lobe (Fig. 9) is supported by the dorsal
ray which bifurcates into two branches at its distal extremity. Each one of these
rays divides into two, the distal one of which sends out a small protuberance near
its extremity. Thus each branch of the dorsal ray has three digitations instead
of two as described and figured by Travassos [1921]. The lateral lobes are
supported by two systems of rays : the ventral and the lateral. The ventral ray
is stout and divides into two rays : the ventro-ventral and the latero-ventral, both
of which is much smaller and more slender than the latero-ventral ray. The
NEMATODES FROM ABOMASUM OF CATTLE IN INDIA
171
lateral ray divides into three branches : the postero-lateral, the medio-lateral and
the antero-lateral. The first of these is the stoutest of the three and is almost
straight. The other two are bent dorsally. The externo-dorsal ray which also
supports the lateral lobe of the bursa is the most slender of all the rays and is
almost straight and of uniform thickness. The arrangement of the rays supporting
the lateral lobes of the bursa are, as will be seen, from the above, exactly iden-
tical with those described and figured by Travassos. They also agree, as pointed
out by Travassos, in the following descending order of stoutness :—latero-ventral.
postero-lateral, medio-lateral, ventro-ventral, antero-lateral and externo-dorsal.
The spicules are more or less like those of Hæmonehus contortus. They are
almost equal and measure 0.322—0.355 in length. At their posterior end is a
button-like enlargement and at a distance of 0.048—0.068 from their extremity is
a barb. The barb on the right spicule is always situated nearer the proximal end
than on the left spicule. The gubernaculum is fusiform, flat, broad in the centre
and measures 0.183—0.23 in length. The prebursal papillæ, not referred to by
Travassos, are present immediately anterior to the bursa.
Female.—The body is attenuated at both the extremities. They measure
7.84—14.9 in length and 0.122—0.288 in maximum thickness which is attained
some distance posterior to the vulva. The longitudinal cuticular striæ are 0.007—
0.017 apart. The excretory pore and the nerve ring are situated at a distance of
0.232—0.24 and the cervical papillæ at a distance of 0.295—0.328 from the anterior
extremity.
Situated at a distance of 1.24—2.83 from the posterior extremity is the vulva
which is situated on a tongue-like appendage present in that region. An interest-
ing variation in regard to the position of the vulva on the appendage, unnoticed
by the original author, were observed in several specimens. It may be present on
the summit of the appendage (Fig. 11A) or at a small distance from the tip of
the appendage (Fig. 11B) as also shown in Travassos' figure 119, plate 23, 1921, or
it may be found almost at the base of the appendage (Fig. 11C). Positions inter-
mediate between those described above were also not infrequently met with. The
vulva (Fig. 10) leads into a long vagina measuring 0.122—0.262 in length. The
remaining portion of the female genitalia are neither described nor figured properly
by Travassos (1921). Limited material at the disposal of this author may have
been responsible for the lack of proper observations in this connection. Travassos'
figure shows that an ordinary ovijector is followed by a sphincter which in turn is
followed directly by the uterus, but in the specimens at my disposal the vagina
leads into a muscular ovijector and is followed by a non-muscular ovijector.
Interposed between these two is a well developed sphincter. The arrangement
172
INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [ III, II
resembles, more or less, the one that I described [ Bhalerao, 1932 ] for Ostertagia
orientalis. The non-muscular portion of the ovijector leads into the uterus. The
muscular portion of the uterus measures 0.14 and the non-muscular portion 0.165
in length. The uteri are divergent and contain a fairly large number of ova. The
ovaries pass forwards approximately up to the anterior two-fifths and are spirally
coiled round the intestine as in H. contortus. The eggs measure 0.053—0.066 ×
0.033—0.042. Segmentation starts while they are still in the uterus and when they
are ready to be deposited in the muscular ovijector they are at the four-celled stage.
The tail is 0.17—0.266 in length tapering gradually to a somewhat blunt point.
At a distance of 0.08—0.12 from the tip of the tail are situated a pair of papillæ .
Host.—Cattle.
Location. —Abomasum.
Locality.—Muktesar (U. P.).
It is my pleasant duty to acknowledge here my indebtedness to Mr. Sunder
Rao Bhutgoswami, the Artist of this Institute, for fair copying all the figures and
to Mr. M. G. Shekharan for helping me in the collection of the material.
REFERENCES.
Bhalerao, G. D. (1932). On Some Nematode Parasites of Goats and Sheep at Muktesar. Ind. J.
Vet. Sc. and Ānim. Husb. 2, 242—254.
Morgan, D. O. (1925). Notes on the Helminth parasites of Domestic Animals in the Aberys
twyth area of Wales. J. Helminth. 3, 167—172.
Petrow, A. M. and Orlow, I. W. (1930). Zur Charakteristik des Nemetoden aus dem Rinde—
Capillaria (Capillaria) bovis (Schnyder
1906)
Tier.
Woch.
38, 274—277.
Ransom, B. H. (1911). The nematodes parasitic in the alimentary tract of cattle, sheep and
other ruminants. U. S. Dept. Agri. Bureau Animal
Industry,
Bull. 127,1—32.
* Schnyder, O. (1906). Beiträg zur kenutnis der Magen-Darmstrongylosis. Inaugeral Disserta
tion, Zurich, 36.
* Travassos, L. (1914). Trichostrongylinæ brazileiras. Braz. Med., An. 28, 163 and 183.
—(1921).
Contributions a l'etude de la fauna helminthologique de Bresil. xiii.
Essai Monographique sur la famille des Trichostrongylidæ Leiper,
1909. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz. 13, 3—82. (Trans.).
EXPLANATION TO FIGURES.
Fig. 1. Capillaria bilobata.—Anterior extremity of female showing the beginning of the
œsophagus.
Fig. 2. Capillaria bilobata.—Last but one cell of the œsophagus.
* These references were not accessible to me in India.
NEMATODES FROM ABOMASUM OF CATTLE IN INDIA
173
Fig. 3. Capillaria bilobata.—Lateral view of the posterior extremity of the male showing the
spicule and the extruded sheath.
Fig. 4. Capillaria bilobata.—Dorsal view of the posterior extremity of the male showing the
caudal alæ and the bursa-like expansion at the end.
Fig. 5. Capillaria bilobata.—Lateral view of a portion of female.
Fig. 6. Capillaria bilobata.—Eggs.
Fig. 7. Capillaria bilobata.—Posterior end of female.
Fig. 8. Hæmonchus similis.—Vontral view of the posterior end of the male.
Fig. 9. Hæmonchus similis.— Ventral view of a portion of the bursa of the male showing the
arrangement of the various rays.
Fig. 10. Hæmonchus similis.—Lateral view of the female showing genitalia.
Fig. 11. Hæmonchus similis, A. B. C.—Lateral view of females showing the varying position of
the vulva on the appendage.
EXPLANATION TO LETTERING.
a.
a.l.
d.l.
e. d.
gub.
l.v.
m.l.
m. ovij.
nm. ovij.
oes.
P.g.
p.l.
p. p.
rt. l.
sp.
sp. sh.
sph.
ut.
v.
v.v.
vag.
Anus.
Antero-lateral.
Dorsal lobe.
Externo-dorsal.
Gubernaculum.
Latero-ventral.
Medio-lateral.
Muscular ovijector.
Non-muscular ovijector.
Œsophagus.
Pyriform gland.
Postero-lateral.
Prebursal papillæ.
Right lobe.
Spicule.
Spicular sheath.
Sphincter.
Uterus.
Vulva.
Ventro-ventral.
Vagina.
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 4.
FIG. 5.
FIG. 6.
FIG. 7.
FIG. 8.
FIG. 9.
E
FIG. 10.
FIG. 11-A.
FIG. 11-B.
FIG. 11-C.
E 2
THE RÔLE OF MINERALS IN CALF FEEDING
BY
A. C. CHAUDHURI, B.Sc., Ph.D. (EDIN.),
Professor of Hygiene, Dietetics and Animal Breeding,
Bihar and Orissa Veterinary College, Patna.
(Received for publication on the 19th July 1932.)
(With one fig.)
The present experiment was planned and carried out with the idea of finding
some means to improve the condition of a number of calves which were very back-
ward in growth at the cattle breeding farm attached to the Bihar and Orissa Veteri-
nary College. It was found that in the herd of calves in the farm there were a
large number of them which were lean, small and unthrifty in condition though
otherwise they were quite healthy.
In studying the causes which might have produced this backward condition,
it became apparent that the calves were insufficiently nourished and attention was
therefore directed to finding a suitable milk substitute to be given in conjunction
with the milk ration.
An experiment was carried out in Aberdeen and Edinburgh by Orr, Crichton,
Shearer and Speedy [1929] to rear calves with a minimum amount of milk plus some
milk substitute without in any way interfering with a satisfactory rate of growth.
They were able to maintain in the experimental calves a satisfactory rate of growth,
as compared with the controls which received a full milk ration, by supplying a
small amount of milk, and a supplement consisting of an appropriate protein and
mineral mixture with a little cod liver oil added to it, to make the composition of
the ration more like that of milk.
An investigation carried on with poultry in 1923 showed that a great impetus
to the growth rate could be given by the addition to a cereal ration of small quan-
tities of mineral salts having a composition closely allied to that of the minerals in
eggs. Later in 1925 in Scotland and Northern Ireland it was demonstrated that
the addition of milk to a ration of mixed cereals doubled the rate of growth in
chicks and that for this purpose separated milk was as good as whole milk.
From these experiments it is evident that minerals play an important part in
growth ; unless sufficient minerals of the right kinds are available in the food sup-
plied, a satisfactory rate of growth is not maintained.
Ordinarily the milk of the dam is the natural food for calves and satisfactory
growth is obtained from it when supplied in sufficient quantity. It is found that
( 174 )