NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
92
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, II
Trichonema aegyptiacum Railliet, 1923.
Syn., Strongylus tetracanlhum Mehlis, 1831.
Host. Horse, mule.
Situation. Colon.
Also recorded by Giles, 1892 [Bhalerao, 1935].
Family SYNGAMIDAE Leiper, 1912.
Genus Syngamus V. Siebold, 1836.
Syngamus laryngeus Railliet, 1899.
Syn., Syngamus laryncheus minor Smit, 1922.
Host. Buffalo, cattle.
Situation. Larynx.
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Family TRICHOSTRONGYLIDAE, Leiper, 1912.
Genus Haemonchus Cobb, 1898.
Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803).
Syn., Strongylus contortus Rudolphi, 1803.
Host. Cattle, sheep, goat.
Situation. Abomasum, small intestine.
Recorded by Bhattacharjee, 1930 [Mitchell, 1931].
Genus Mecistocirrus (Railliet and Henry, 1912).
Mecistocirrus digitatus (V. Linstow, 1906).
Syn., Nematodirus digitatus Linstow, 1906.
Strongylus digitatus V. Linstow, 1906.
Hos . Cat le, buffalo.
Situation. Abomasum.
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Genus Nematodirus Ransom, 1907.
Nematodirus filicollis (Rudolphi, 1802).
Syn., Ascaris filicollis Rudolphi, 1802.
Host. Cattle.
Situation. Abomasum.
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Genus Trichostrongylus Looss, 1905.
Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Giles, 1892).
Syn., Strongylus colubriformis Giles, 1892.
Strongylus inslabilis Railliet, 1893.
Trichostrongylus instabilis Looss, 1905.
Host. Sheep.
Situation. Abomasum.
Recorded by Giles, 1892 [Bhalerao, 1935].
None in the laboratory collection.
Family Acuariidae Seurat, 1913.
Genus Parabronema Baylis, 1921.
NEMATODE PARASITES OF THE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS IN BURMA
93
Parabronema smithi (Cobbold, 1882).
Syn., Filaria smithii Cobbold, 1882.
Spiroptera smithi Railliet, Henry and Bauche, 1914.
Host. Elephant.
Situation. Gastric tumour.
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Family GNATHOSTOMIDAE Railliet, 1895.
Genus Gnathostoma Owen, 1836.
Gnathostoma spinigerum Owen, 1836.
Host. Cat.
Situation. Stomach.
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Family PHYSALOPTERIDAE Leiper, 1908.
Genus Chlamydonema Hegt, 1910.
Chlamydonema praeputiale von Linstow, 1889.
Syn., Physaloptera praeputialis Linstow, 1889.
Chlamydonema felineum Hegt, 1910.
Host. Cat.
Situation. Stomach.
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Family SPIRURIDAE Oerley, 1885.
Genus Spirocerca Railliet and Henry, 1911.
Spirocerca sanguinolenta (Rudolphi, 1819).
Syn. Spiroptera sanguinolenta Rudolphi, 1819.
Host. Dog.
Situation. Oesophagus, stomach, aorta.
Recorded by Bhattacharjee, 1930 [Mitchell, 1931].
Genus Habronema Diesing, 1861.
Habronema megastoma (Rudolphi, 1819).
Syn., Filaria megastoma Rudolphi, 1819.
Spiroptera megastoma Rudolphi, 1819.
Host. Horse.
Situation. Stomach tumours.
Also recorded by Giles, 1892 [Bhalerao, 1935].
Habronema muscæ (Carter, 1861).
Syn., Filaria muscæ Carter, 1861.
Dermofilaria irritans Rivolta, 1884.
Host. Horse.
Situation. Stomach.
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Family THELAZIIDAE Railliet, 1916.
Genus Thelazia Bosc, 1819.
94
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, II
Thelazia callipœda Railliet and Henry, 1910.
Host. Dog.
Situation. Eye.
Also recorded by Faust, 1930 [Bhalerao, 1935].
Thelazia lacrymalis (Gurlt, 1831).
Syn., Filaria lacrymalis Gurlt, 1831, in part.
Host. Horse.
Situation. Eye. (Aqueous humour).
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Thelazia rhodesi (Desmarest, 1827).
Syn., Thelazius rhodesii Desmarest, 1827.
Filaria bovis Baillet, 1858.
Filaria palpebrarum Baillet, 1858.
Host. Cattle, buffalo.
Situation. Eye. (Lacrymal ducts).
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Family FILARIIDAE (Cobbold, 1864).
Genus Dirofilaria Railliet and Henry, 1911.
Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856).
Syn., Filaria immitis Leidy, 1856.
Host. Dog.
Situation. Heart, pleural cavity.
Also recorded by Evans and Rennie [1910]. Gaiger [1915].
Bhattacharjee, 1930 [Mitchell, 1931], Bhalerao [1935].
Genus Onchocerca Diesing, 1841.
Onchocerca armillata Railliet and Henry, 1909.
Host. Buffalo, cattle.
Situation. Aorta. (In nodules).
First record of this parasite from Burma.
Onchocerca sp. Sweet, 1915.
Host. Cattle, buffalo.
Situation. Subcutaneous nodules.
Recorded by Sweet, 1915 [Bhalerao, 1935]. None in the laboratory collec¬
tion.
Genus Setaria Viborg, 1795.
Setaria digitata (V. Linstow, 1906).
Syn., Filaria digitata Linstow, 1906.
Host. Buffalo.
Situation. Eye, peritoneal cavity.
Also recorded by Boulenger [1920]. Thwaite, 1927 [Bhalerao, 1935] Baylis
[1929].
NEMATODE PARASITES OF THE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS IN BURMA
95
Setaria equina (Abildgaard, 1789).
Host. Horse, cattle.
Situation. Peritoneal cavity, eye, circulatory system, thoracic cavity.
Also recorded by Neumann [1905]. Evans and Rennie [1910]. Bhattachar¬
jee, 1930 [Mitchell, 1931], Bhalerao [1935].
Setaria labiato-papillosa (Alessandrini, 1838).
Syn., Filaria labiato-papillosa Alessandrini, 1838.
Host. Cattle.
Situation. Peritoneal and pleural cavities.
Recorded by Bhattacharjee, 1930 [Mitchell, 1931].
Setaria marshalli Boulenger, 1921.
Host. Cattle.
Situation. Peritoneal cavity.
Recorded by Boulenger [1920]. Thwaite, 1927 [Bhalerao, 1935]. Baylis
[1929].
III. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author wishes to record his thanks to the Director of Veterinary Services,
Burma, the Veterinary Research Officer, Insein, Burma, and the officers of the
Department for providing the facilities to carry out this work and the
encouragement they have given him. Also to Mr. J. Smith, B.Sc, M.R.C.V.S.,
late Field Veterinary Research Officer, Insein, Burma, for his collections of
elephant parasites during his stay in Burma.
REFERENCES
Baylis, H. A. (1929). A Manual of Helminthology. London, xi + 303 pp.
Bhalerao, G. D. (1935). Helminth Parasites of the Domesticated animals in India.
Sc. Mon. No. 6 of the I.C.A. R., Delhi, 365 pp.
Boulenger, C. L. (1920). On some filarid parasites of cattle and other ruminants.
Parasitol. 12, 341-349.
—(1921).
Strongylid parasites of horses in the Punjab. Parasitol.
13, 315-326.
Cameron, T. W. M. (1934). The Internal Parasites of Domesticated animals.
London, xii+292 pp.
Evans, G. H. (1910). Elephants and their diseases. Rangoon, xiv+343 pp.
—,
and Rennie, T. (1910). Notes on some parasites in Burma.
111, Journ. Trop. Vet. Sc., 5, 240-256.
Gaiger, S. H. (1910). A preliminary check-list of the parasites of Indian domesti-
cated animals. Journ. Trop. Vet. Sc., 5, 65-71.
—(1911).
Notes on parasites. Journ. Trop. Vet. Sc., 4, 292-306.
—(1915).
A revised check-list of the animal parasites of domesticated
animals in India. Journ. Comp. Path. Therp. 28, 67-76,
D
96
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII II
Khalil, M. (1922). A revision of the nematode parasites of elephants, with a des-
cription of four new species. Proc. Zool. Soc., 922, 205-279.
Mitchell, D. T. (1931). Report on the Veterinary Department, Burma, for the
year ended the 31st March 1930. Rangoon, 28-29.
Monnig, H. O. (1934). Veterinary Helminthology and Entomology. London,
xvi+402 pp.
Neumann, L. G. (1905). Parasites and parasitic diseases of domesticated animals.
London, xvi +697 pp.
Railliet, A., Henry, A., and Bauche, J. (1914). Sur les Helminthes de l'elephant
d' asie (1) 111 Nematodes B. Bull. Soc. Path. Exot. 7, 206-210.
Railliet, A., Henry, A., and Joyeux, C. (1913). Un nouveau strongylide des singes.
Bull. Soc. Path. Exot. 6, 264-267.
Smith, J. H. (1933). A Report on the Investigation of Diseases of Elephants.
Rangoon, 13.
Yorke, W. and Maplestone, P. A. (1926). The Nematode Parasites of Vetebrates.
London, x+536pp.
HAEMATOLOGICAL STUDIES IN INDIAN DAIRY ANIMALS
BY
N. S. SANKARANARAYANAN, G.M.V.C.
Animal Nutrition Section, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 13th February 1937)
(With one text-figure)
ALTHOUGH investigations have been carried out in other countries to fix haerma¬
tological standards for domestic animals, such work has not been attempted in this
country and no records are available of the typical blood picture of Indian dairy
animals. Napier and Das Gupta [1935] working on human haematology have
found certain deviations in the blood picture of the Bengal population from foreign
standards. The present work was undertaken with a view to find out whether
any such variation exists between Indian cattle and foreign ones. The buffalo,
an important dairy animal in India, is also included. It is hoped that these figures
will be of practical value to the veterinarian who has now to depend upon foreign
standards.
This paper records the results of a study of the blood of nearly 100 animals
of different breeds belonging to the Imperial Dairy Institute at Bangalore. The
following were the animals examined, all the cows being in milk :—
6 Working bullocks of Mysore breed.
10 Young Scindi bulls.
30 Half-bred cows.
4 Quarter-bred cows.
1 Five-eighth-bred cow.
1 Three-quarter-bred cow.
1 Ayrshire bull.
1 Three-eighth-bred cow.
20 Scindi cows.
1 Scindi bull.
10 Gir cows.
1 Gir bull.
12 Murrah buffaloes.
1 Murrah buffalo bull.
In addition the blood of four sheep of local breed and two human subjects
was examined.
Two or more samples of blood were examined from each animal at different
periods. Human subjects were included only to test the correctness of the tech-
nique followed. In this work it was possible only to make erythrocyte, leucocyte
and differential counts and no attempt was made to estimate haemoglobin, throm-
bocytes or reticulocytes.
( 97 )
98
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, II
BLEEDING AND SAMPLING
Samples of blood were drawn either from the jugular vein or the marginal or
dorsal vein of the ear. No significant differences between the samples were noticed.
At the beginning of these investigations counts were made only on fresh blood.
Sometimes owing to accidents the vein had to be punctured again for the second
pipette within a few minutes after the first attempt. These latter samples were
found to be abnormal due to concentration of leucocytes at this spot. Hence all
the counts had to be made on the sample drawn at the very first attempt. This
was made possible only by using sodium oxalate [Napier and Das Gupta, 1935]
as an anticoagulant, its concentration being one mg. per c.c. of blood.
Blood counts were made on the fresh and oxalated samples to see whether
the anti-coagulant interfered with the accuracy of the results. It was noticed
(Table I) that the erythrocyte count was unaffected. However, structural changes
in the cells were noticed, the red cells becoming crenated and some of the leu-
cocytes failing to take the nuclear stain. Even the film, when stained with Giemsa,
appeared reddish, perhaps due to the effect of oxalate on the haemoglobin of the
red cells. But in the fresh oxalated samples the lymphocytes alone possessed
an affinity for the nuclear stain, and as the other forms of leucocytes, particularly
neutrophils and monocytes were indistinguishable without their nuclear stain,
an apparent increase in the lymphocytes was noted when differential counts
were made. This might perhaps be the reason for Kerncamp [1933] say-
ing that lymphocytes increase in oxalated blood.
In the smear prepared with a twenty-four hours sample even the lymphocytes
fail to take the nuclear stain. Eosinophile nucleii remain colourless even in the fresh
oxalated sample, but the cells could be identified by the stained granular cytoplasm.
Hence, for differential counts and for study of structural characters of blood
elements, fresh and pure blood alone should be used. But fresh oxalated blood
could safely be employed for erythrocyte and leucocyte counts.
TABLE I
Erythrocyte counts in pure and oxalated blood in millions per c.c.
Animals
Bullocks . . . .
„ . . . .
Cow . . . .
„ . . . .
„ . . . .
Calf . . . .
Pure and
fresh
blood
8.400
8.632
9.892
9.082
7.230
9.340
Fresh
oxalated
blood
8.608
8.696
9.680
9.105
7.148
9.360
Oxalated
blood
24 hours
old
8.416
7.500
9.000
8.876
7.069
9.084
Oxalated
blood
48 hours
old
7.976
. .
8.232
. .
. .
9.020
HAEMATOLOGICAL STUDIES IN INDIAN DAIRY ANIMALS
99
DILUTING FLUID
For diluting fluid a 3 per cent citrate solution was employed and the results
agree with those obtained by the use of Toisson's or Hayem's fluids (Table II).
TABLE II
Blood counts in three different diluting fluids in millions per c.c. of blood
Samples examined
Scindi . . . . . . .
Bullock I . . . . . . .
Scindi S . . . . . . .
Gir No. 5 . . . . . . .
Scindi 253 . . . . . . .
Cross-bred cow 576 . . . . .
Cross-bred cow 472 . . . . .
Cross-bred cow 409 . . . . .
Gir 24 . . . . . . .
Citrate
solution
7.464
9.920
7.192
9.020
7.632
9.024
9.336
7.032
9.144
Toisson's
solution
7.160
10.456
7.000
8.984
7.520
8.976
. .
. .
. .
Hayem's
solution
7.324
. .
. .
9.128
. .
. .
9.256
7.056
9.240
The citrate solution, however, is preferable for the following reasons :—
1. It is easily prepared.
2. It keeps a long time.
3. It gives a clear picture of the red cells with no swelling, no shaded centres,
no groupings and with the platelets clearly separated.
4. Filling the blood pipettes with the citrate solution and blowing it out are
found to be easier.
For leucocyte counts a 0.4 per cent solution of glacial acetic acid tinged with
methylene blue was used. For the estimation of erythrocytes, the blood was dilut-
ed in Potain pipettes (1-100) and the actual counting was done over Hawksley's
improved Neubar counting chamber. Counting of any 100 squares is advised to
be essential, but from experience it has been found that counting of 100 squares
distributed over the whole field gives a constant and better average than any
other form of counting. The same pipettes were used throughout this enquiry
eliminating thereby one source of error. Two or more countings were made from
the same sample, sometimes from fresh dilutions, at other times from different
samples from the same animal and the averages were recorded in Table III.
100
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, II
TABLE III
Blood counts of healthy animals of Bangalore Farm
No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Animals
Bullocks (Mysore)
Scindi cows .
Scindi bulls .
Gir cows . .
Gir bulls . .
Buffaloes Murrah
Buffalo bull .
Scindi bulls .
Half-bred cows
Quarter-bred
cows.
Three-eighth-bred
cows.
Five-eighth -bred
cows.
Ayrshire bull .
Sheep local .
Human . .
Erythrocytes in millions
Maximum
8.732
9.892
9.554
9.128
. .
11.296
. .
9.680
8.044
9.960
. .
7.360
..
14.672
5.520
Minimum
8.400
7.104
8.696
6.776
. .
7.544
. .
9.072
5.680
8.592
. .
7.672
. .
10.280
5.376
Average
8.570
8.498
9.272
8.923
9.024
9.682
7.500
9.476
6.876
9.269
8.520
7.142
6.088
14.149
5.448
Leucocytes in thousands
Maximum
16,000
14,400
15,200
19,800
. .
20,800
. .
. .
16,000
16,400
. .
. .
. .
12,000
. .
Minimum
7,550
12,000
12,400
10,400
. .
10,400
. .
. .
7,550
8,600
. .
. .
. .
8,200
. .
Average
12,050
12,840
. .
12,000
15,600
13,200
. .
12,000
11,200
13,300
14,000
11,600
10,200
10,200
. .
Erythrocytes
From Table III, it may be seen that the erythrocyte count in pure Indian
cattle is far above those in the Ayrshire bull and the half-bred cows, the mean rang-
ing from 7.5 to 9.6 millions per c.c. of blood, the buffalo topping the list with
9.6 millions average with a maximum count of 11.2 millions. It would be in-
teresting to compare the above figures with those reported by different workers
elsewhere. Fraser [1931] working in Cambridge after an extensive study has
given " under seven millions " as the average count for British cattle. He further
quotes the figures of other European workers which are in close agreement with
his own. The American figure of 6.6 millions as reported by Nicols [1935] agrees
with that of Fraser. Norris and Chamberlain, quoted by Fraser [1931], working
on Australian cattle have reported that the erythrocyte counts range from seven
to ten millions per c. c. of blood. However, it is remarkable that the numerical
findings for the half-bred cows and the pure Ayrshire bull agree closely with
European and American figures and those of Indian cows agree with the figures
given for Australian cattle. Friedberger and Frohner [Nicols, 1935] report that
there is a tendency to anaemia in dogs of improved and delicate breeds. Napier
and Das Gupta [1935] also citing other workers, report that women and men of
HAEMATOLOGICAL STUDIES IN INDIAN DAIRY ANIMALS
101
India generally give a lower blood count and lower Hb figures compared with
Europeans and the reason suggested is that Indians are of lower vitality and
stamina. Perhaps the above reasons may also be applicable to cattle.
Another interesting feature seen in the same table is the figure for animals of
subsequent crossing. The Bangalore Farm is now experimenting upon quarter-
breeding to see whether quarter-bred cows could be made to suit Indian condi-
tions. So far as the blood picture is concerned the quarter-breds are similar to
the pure Indian cattle. The three-eighths-bred and the five-eighths-bred cows
have given counts midway between those of half-bred and quarter-bred cows and
from the following chart it would seem that the erythrocyte count in the cross-bred
animals is inversely proportional to the extent of foreign blood content in them.
102
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, II
The graph for the pure Indian cattle represents the average for them exclud-
ing the buffaloes. The fact that the bulls give higher counts than the respective
cows is also noteworthy, and this fact is also recorded by Fraser [loc. cit.]. The
buffalo bull, however, gave a lower count and this may be due to the old age of
this particular animal.
Leucocytes
From Table II it may be observed that the white cells have a range from
seven to twenty thousands per c. c. of blood including the buffalo with an average
of 13.4 thousands. Fraser's figure is from three to fifteen thousands for European
cattle which also is lower than that of the Indian cattle. Nicols' figure for
American cattle is nine thousands which is also low. Nicols [loc. cit.] also finds a
wide variation in the white cell counts of normal animals amounting to 100 per
cent. However, Indian cattle have not given a figure lower than 7,000 and the upper
limit is 19' 8 thousands in Gir cows and twenty thousands in buffaloes. Such high
figures have also been obtained by Sergent and his collaborators [Fraser, 1931] in
the case of Algerian cattle. The remarks made about erythrocyte counts in
Indian and foreign cattle hold good in leucocyte counts also. But it is remark-
able to note that the half-bred cows while agreeing with European cattle in eryth-
rocyte counts differ from both European and Indian cattle in leucocyte counts.
The other cross-bred animals show the same relationship to the half-bred cow in
their white cell count as in that of the red cell count. Here also the quarter-bred
cows behave exactly similar to pure Indian cattle.
As already stated human subjects and sheep were included to test the accu-
racy of the technique and it is interesting to note that the human figures for
erythrocytes closely agree with the standards. In sheep, Fraser has recorded a
range from 7.6 millions to 14.4 millions per c. c. for red cells and 4.4 to 13.0
thousands for white cells ; whereas the figures for local sheep are 10.2 to 14.6
millions for red cells and eight to twelve thousands for the white cells, which figures
do not vary much from those of Fraser except in the range.
EXAMINATION OF BLOOD SMEARS
The film for studying the erythrocytes and for making differential counts of
leucocytes was made by the ordinary method of taking smears direct from the
puncture. Of the two stains Giemsa's and Leishman's recommended for stain-
ing the film, Giemsa's is found to be more satisfactory for reasons stated by Fraser
[loc. cit.]. After washing, the film appears light pinkish blue in the case of normal
blood. If the smears are made from the oxalated blood, the film appears light
brick red as stated already. This same colour has also been noticed to a certain
extent in films made from non-oxalated anaemic blood. Thus Giemsa's stain forms
a sort of indicator of anaemic blood.
HAEMATOLOGICAL STUDIES IN INDIAN DAIRY ANIMALS
103
In the stained film the red cell appears pinkish. In all samples examined
Microcytes and Megalocytes were observed and with the exception of Gir cattle
no animal showed Poikilocytes, Punctate basophilia or any such pathological
specimen of red cells. This fact indicates that the animals examined were in
normal health so far as the erythrocyte count is concerned. This remark applies
to buffaloes also. One noteworthy character in the buffalo blood is that there is
a tendency for the red cells to form into rouleaux and the smear is likely to be mis-
taken for that of the horse but for the differences in the character of the leucocytes.
Among the leucocytes, the small lymphocytes far exceed the number of other
forms put together and they are usually found in large numbers at the beginning
of the smear, while the polymorpho-nuclears are found mostly at the finish. The
appearance of the polymorpho-nuclears at the tail end of the smear may perhaps
be due to their lightness or phagocytic movements causing them to be swept off
towards the tail end in the act of spreading the drop of blood. The concentra-
tion of the different forms of leucocytes in different parts of the film makes it
necessary to adopt a special method of counting, so that the apparent and the
actual counts may not be far different. Series of fields in lines from one end of
the film to the other end when counted, give more or less uniform results.
The following observations were recorded :—
1. In healthy cattle only four kinds of leucocytes were observed and when-
ever any other form was noticed there was always a variation in
erythrocyte, leucocyte or differential counts from the healthy stand-
ards.
2. Monocytes are largest in cattle.
3. Polymorpho-nuclears have more well-defined cytoplasm and the neutro¬
phile granules were more prominent in the case of the Ayrshire
bull.
4. The polymorpho-nuclears are relatively small and the Eosinophile gra-
nules are finer in cows than in the case of buffaloes.
The following is the tabulated record of percentages of different forms of leu-
cocytes found in different breeds. Each figure represents the average of the group.
In each film more than 300 cells were counted. In these figures large mono*
nuclears and small lymphocytes are grouped as mono-nuclears.
E