NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE VIRUSES OF
RINDERPEST AND DOYLE'S DISEASE ?
V. R. RAJAGOPALAN, G.M.V.C.,
Assistant Veterinary Research Officer, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute,
Muktesar.
[Received for publication on 22nd December 1936]
IT was suggested by Kylasam Aiyer[ 1931] that a relationship exists between
the Madras Fowl Pest virus (Doyle's disease virus) and the rinderpest virus. If
this were substantiated it would lead to far-reaching developments. It was,
therefore, decided to verify the correctness of this supposition. Mr. Ware, the
Director of this Institute, laid down the outline of the work to be undertaken in
this connection and the experiment was completed during 1931. As no further
communication has since appeared on the subject either in support or against the
above statement, it is now considered desirable to record the results obtained at
this Institute.
The two most reliable methods of establishing identity of viruses are by cross¬
immunity tests and serum-virus neutralisation tests. It was decided to attempt
only cross-immunity tests for this preliminary investigation.
The plan of the experiment was as follows :—
(1) To accommodate two healthy susceptible hill bulls in experimental
chuppers and inject them each with recently tested virulent Doyle's
disease virus. At the same time two susceptible fowls would be
injected with the same virus to prove its potency.
(2) To accommodate three healthy fowls—birds which have been remain-
ing in a healthy condition at Muktesar for at least some weeks—in
an isolated shed and to inject them with 0.5 c. c. of a good hill
bull strain of rinderpest virus. At the same time two bulls would
be injected with 5 c. c. of the same virus to prove its potency.
(3) If a reaction occurred after injection of the viruses, then sub-inocula-
tions would be carried out as follows :—
(a) If the cattle reacted, blood would be drawn from them and injected
into two healthy hill bulls and two healthy fowls.
(b) If the fowls reacted mouth washings and blood would be taken and
injected into two fowls and two hill bulls for each material.
(4) If no reaction occurred, or any animals survived the inoculation for
10 days, then they would be tested for immunity giving all hill
bulls rinderpest virus and all fowls Doyle's disease virus.
59
60
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [VII, I
THE EXPERIMENT
1.—To test if Doyle's disease virus will give rise to rinderpest in bulls—
Three Indian strains of Doyle's disease virus were available. They had been
stored in the refrigerator in the form of organ pulp since 11th May 1931, 11th May
1931, and 20th May 1931, respectively. The strains dated 11th May 1931 had
been inoculated into fowls on 23rd May 1931 and found to be virulent.
These three viruses were mixed and used for inoculation in connection with this
experiment on 26th May 1931. Two susceptible hill bulls, Hill Bull 63 and Hill
Bull 111, were each injected subcutaneously with 15 c. c. of a thick emulsion.
At the same time two fowls, Fowl 20 and Fowl 21 were injected subcutaneously
with 5 c. c. of the same emulsion, to serve as controls for the viability of the virus.
The two fowls used for control died of Doyle's disease on the 29th and 30th
respectively of the same month. The virus was, therefore, potent.
Of the bulls inoculated with the Doyle's disease virus, Hill Bull 63 showed no
reaction nor did it acquire any immunity against rinderpest as judged by a subse-
quent re-test 10 days later. But the other bull, Hill Bull 111, showed a sharp rise
in temperature on the 4th day after the inoculation, and sub-inoculations were
carried out from it. Fresh whole blood was used. Two bulls, Hill Bull 80 and
Hill Bull 272 were each injected subcutaneously with 5 c. c. and two fowls, Fowl 25
and Fowl 26, were each injected with 2 c. c. by the same route.
The sub-inoculated bulls developed no reaction and were also shown to be
subsequently susceptible to rinderpest when re-tested 11 days later. This points
to the conclusion that the blood drawn from Hill Bull 111 contained no virus that
will give rise to rinderpest in bulls. Further evidence pointing to the same con-
clusion was obtained when Hill Bull 111 itself was submitted to a re-test with
rinderpest virus on the 11th day after Inoculation with the Doyle's disease virus.
It developed all the classical symptoms and lesions of rinderpest and died of it.
Of the fowls sub-inoculated from Hill Bull 111, Fowl 25 died on the 5th day
but as it was decided not to conduct any further sub-inoculations in this preli-
minary experiment, it cannot be affirmed with certainty as to the actual cause of
death. There was a coincident helminthic infection and the probability is that it
did not die of Doyle's disease. This is borne out by the fact that its pair, Fowl
26, did not develop any symptoms at all and was found to be subsequently
susceptible to infection with Doyle's disease virus when tested 10 days later.
The results of this part of the experiment are presented in tabular form in
Table I.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIRUSES OF RINDERPEST AND DOYLE'S DISEASE
61
TABLE I
(The re-test inoculations shown against column six were cone as a rule, on the 10th or 11th day after the last inoculations.)
62
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [VII, I
This shows clearly that Doyle's disease virus neither gives rise to rinderpest in
bulls nor does it confer any protection to bulls against a subsequent infection with
rinderpest. It also shows that Doyle's disease is not inoculable into bulls.
II.—To test if rinderpest virus will give rise to Doyle's disease in fowls—
Defibrinated virulent blood was obtained from a hill bull virus producer at the
height of the thermal reaction on the 4th day after inoculation. The donor of the
virus, Hill Bull 14, later developed the typical symptoms and lesions of rinder-
pest, including diarrhoea and vesicles. Three fowls, Fowl 22, Fowl 23 and Fowl 24
were inoculated each with 0.5 c. c. At the same time two hill bulls, Hill Bull 115
and Hill Bull 49 were each injected with 5 c. c. of the same blood to serve as con-
trols for the viability of the virus. These bulls developed the typical thermal re-
action and diarrhoea of rinderpest and were found to have been rendered immune on
a subsequent retest with rinderpest virus. The virus from Hill Bull .14 has thus
been shown to have been viable.
Of the three fowls inoculated above with the rinderpest virus, Fowl 23 and Fowl
24 showed no reaction whatever. It was also found that the rinderpest inocula-
tion had conferred no immunity on them against Doyle's disease, for, when re-
tested 10 days later they succumbed to the inoculation. The third fowl, Fowl 22,
however, developed a slight thermal reaction and constitutional disturbances
such as dullness and inappetence on the 4th day after the inoculation. Sub-in-
oculations were carried out from this fowl with the mouth washings and blood using
bulls and fowls for both the materials.
The mouth washing was inoculated subcutaneously into Hill Bull 229 and Hill
Bull 233 at 5 c. c. each and into fowls, Fowl 27 and Fowl 28, at 3 c. c. each. Hill
Bull 229 and Hill Bull 233 did not develop any reaction and were found to be subse-
quently susceptible to rinderpest when retested with rinderpest virus 10 days later.
Fowls, F. 27 and F. 28 became dull, fed fairly and had soft faeces. but regained nor-
mal health eventually. They were proved to have developed no immunity against
Doyle's disease virus, for when they were tested 10 days later with Doyle's disease
virus, they developed the clinical symptoms of Doyle's disease and died. This con-
clusively shows that the ailments of F. 27 and F. 28 following the inoculation of
mouth washings from Fowl 22 was not attributable to Doyle's disease.
The whole blood from Fowl 22 was injected subcutaneoulsy into bulls, Hill Bull
248 and Hill Bull 312, at 5 c. c. each and into fowls F. 29 and F. 30 at 3 c. c. each.
None of the bulls showed any reaction following this inoculation and among the
fowls only F. 29 had slight constitutional derangement. These animals were
retested for immunity 10 days later. The bulls were found to be susceptible to
rinderpest. The fowls were found to be susceptible to Doyle's disease and they
died of the test inoculations.
These results are presented in tabular form in Table II.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIRUSES OF RINDERPEST AND DOYLE'S DISEASE
63
TABLE II
The retest inoculation shown against column six were done, as a rule, on the 10th or 11th day after the test inoculation).
64
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [VII, I
These results conclusively show that rinderpest-virus neither gives rise to
Doyle's disease in fowls nor does it confer any protection on fowls against a subse-
quent infection with Doyle's disease virus.
SUMMARY
It has been shown that rinderpest virus does not give rise to Doyle's disease in
fowls and vice versa and that no cross immunity occurs between the two viruses.
REFERENCE
Kylasam Aiyer, K. (1931). Ind. Vet. Jour. 7, 340.
ABSTRACTS
The diagnosis of mastitis. STARR, L. E., PRESCOTT, T. H., and HUFFMAN,
J. (1936). J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assn. N. S. 41, 468.
Based on experience of the systematic examination of a dairy herd, the authors
draw conclusions on the comparative value of various recognised tests for the diagnosis
of bovine mastitis. The following are the tests considered:—
(1) Physical examination: Each quarter of the mammary gland is examined by
manual manipulation. The consistency, size, weight, symmetry and the
presence of induration or of fibrosis are noted.
(2) Moak's strip cup test: The cup consists of a metal container over which
a 100-120 wire screen (or black cloth) has been incorporated within a
concave cover. Clots or flakes in the milk are caught in the mesh of the
wire or cloth, where they can be readily noted.
(3) Jensen's brom cresol-purple test: Filter paper impregnated with 0.1 per
cent of the dye, dried at low temperature and cut into pieces of 1½ in.
by ½ in. are used. Two or three drops of milk from the end of the teat
is placed on the paper and the results read immediately. A green-tan
colour indicates a normal quarter and a deep purple a diseased quarter.
(4) Hayden's Chlorine test: Five c. c. of silver nitrate solution (1.3415 grm.
to 1 litre of distilled water) is measured into a test-tube. Two drops of
a 10 per cent potassium chromate solution is added, which produces a
brick-red colour. The appearance of a yellow colour on addition of 1
c. c. of milk indicates a positive reaction.
(5) The catalase test of Rossel and Miller : Ordinary glass slides are painted on
one side with black enamel paint. A large drop of the milk sample is
placed on the mirror surface and one drop of 10 per cent watery hydrogen
peroxide is added. The appearance of bubbles in the drop indicates
infection.
(6) Hydrogen-ion concentration test: 0.5 c. c. bromthymolblue is used as an
indicator in 9.5 c. c. of neutral distilled water to which 0.5 c. c. of the
milk sample is added. The pH is read off by use of a Hellege comparator.
A pH above 6.8 indicates abnormality.
(7) Hadley's Rennet test: A solution of rennet is prepared by mixing one part
of fresh cheese-maker's rennet to 50 parts of distilled, water. One-tenth
c. c. of the solution is added to 10 c. c. of the freshly drawn sample. The
mixture is thoroughly shaken and allowed to stand at room temperature
for one hour. Milk which does not coagulate within the first hour is
considered to be abnormal.
( 65 )
K
66
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, I
(8) Bacteriological examination : Plate counts and examinations for signifi-
cant micro-organisms are made.
Correlating the results, the authors draw the conclusion that:—
(a) physical examination in conjunction with the bromeresol-purple test com-
pares very favourably with other methods of diagnosis.
(b) the strip cup and rennet tests are simple and reliable for use by the dairy-
man.
(c) the Chlorine and Catalase tests are very sensitive so that they can be used
only as laboratory procedures.
(d) the pH of the milk is not reliable as a diagnostic agent for mastitis.
(e) bacteriological examination is too complicated and expensive for routine
control of mastitis. (V. R. R.).
The role of nutrition in prevention of disease in farm animals. FRASER,
A. H. H. (1935). Nutr. Abs. & Rev., 5, 2, 295.
Malnutrition may not only produce deficiency disease directly ascribable to a
nutritional cause but may render an animal more susceptible and less resistant to the
attacks of bacteria or protozoa or parasitic worms producing endemic or epidemic
disease. Nutritional science provides an additional means of disease prevention which
in the near future may play an important part in maintaining health, increasing produc-
tion and decreasing cost in live-stock farming. Proper nutrition for the dairy heifer
calf is not only essential in order to get healthy cows yielding wholesome milk in large
quantities, but is also economical because otherwise the majority of cows will be sold
from the byres on account of sterility, mastitis or tuberculosis before they have reached
the age of maximum milk production.
Phosphorus deficiency of pasture is the limiting factor in animal production over
large areas of the world, and where cereals and oil cakes are extensively used in more
intensive system of farming, calcium deficiency is liable to occur. It is probable that
a great deal of the disease attributed by practical men to forced production and high
feeding is in reality due to an unrecognised latent deficiency in diet. The importance
of iodine and iron in goitre and pining districts respectively is proved, although the
deficiency of these minerals is not likely to be the sole cause of these conditions. An
uncomplicated deficiency of calcium in pasture has not been reported but it is usually
always associated with that of phosphorus and probably other elements.
It seems that wild herbivora and native breeds of cattle are not so liable to mineral
deficiency as the imported breeds of high fertility, rapid growth and heavy-milking
type, because such functions require more phosphorus than the natural pastures of a
large area of the world can afford and therefore the improved breeds may die, lose type
or revert to scrub under less favourable conditions. A cow yielding 1,500 gallons in
a lactating period will excrete a stone of lime in its milk alone ; a 4 lb. hen laying 250
eggs a year will excrete over 3 lb. of lime in the egg shell alone. Thus the modern high
ABSTRACTS
67
producing farm animal has unnatural nutritive requirements and the ordinary farm
ration is too often a mere compromise between imperfect nutritional knowledge and
economic expediency.
Progressive depletion of minerals in pasture lands exerts quite an apparent in-
fluence on the general well-being of the stock resulting in conditions like osteophagia,
delayed maturity &c. Speaking generally, the balance between the potential produc-
tivity of a breed and the natural fertility of soils is a main factor influencing the distribu-
tion of different breeds of domesticated herbivora.
The mineral deficiency can be combated by supplying the deficient mineral element
in adequate amount either by direct feeding or indirectly through crops by manuring
the soil.
Vitamins, unlike minerals, may be synthesised by the animal body from precursors
in the food, and its requirements may and do vary between closely related species.
Vitamin deficiencies, as a cause of disease, are of comparatively minor importance in
all farm stock, unlike laboratory rodents and human beings and can be ignored in the
case of grazing herbivora, but the nearer the conditions under which farm animals are
kept to those of the laboratory the more evident the need for vitamins becomes.
If the animal is to leave no progeny, then production in dairy cows, bacon pigs and
laying hens can be safely forced to its ultimate limit by the aid of concentrated food,
but where an animal is to be used for breeding then it should be fed as nearly as possible
on its natural food, and it is highly probable that there may be undiscovered food
factors in natural foods such as grass and milk which are of importance in live-stock
feeding. Based on the results of a number of natural immunity tests on grazing
sheep, Anderson and others suggest the presence of a property in growing grass, which
has an influence on the defensive mechanism of the animal's tissues. (R. L. K.)
Allantoin, a constituent of maggot excretions, stimulates healing of chronic
discharging wounds. ROBINSON, W. (1935). J. Parasit., 21, 354-358.
A noticeable feature in the maggot therapy of infected wounds is the rapidity of
the healing process, and this seemed to the author to be suggestive of the fact that
maggots do not merely feed upon necrotic tissue and destroy bacteria but that they
also excrete into the wound some substance which is endowed with special curative
properties. Investigation showed that this substance was allantoin, which not only
occurs as a constituent of maggot excretions, but is a component of urinary secretions
of lower animals and is also distributed among plants, where it is found chiefly in the
embryos of seeds.
For extracting allantoin, the author placed several thousand nearly full-grown
maggots in glass funnels stoppered with cotton.
The maggots were occasionally
sprayed lightly with water to facilitate excretion and drainage and the excretions were
collected in beakers. From this liquid, allantoin was separated as a crystalline
substance and its identity was confirmed by comparing its melting point and
crystallographic properties with those of an authentic sample.
68
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
[VII, I
In his actual therapeutic experiments, however, the author used a 0.5 per cent
aqueous solution of commercial allantoin, this being applied daily to the wounds in the
form of soaked gauze dressings. The efficacy of this remedy was particularly tested
upon chronic non-healing wounds with unhealthy inactive tissue, and in all such cases,
small areas of pinkish granulation tissue could be seen growing in the wounds after
the first few applications. The treatment was painless and inexpensive.
The author, however, does not claim that allantoin treatment can be entirely
substituted for maggot therapy, in view of the fact that maggots play a definite role
by removing dead tissue and pus-forming bacteria. [S. K. S.]
NOTE
FOURTH INTERNATIONAL GRASSLAND CONGRESS
THE Fourth International Grassland Congress is to be held in Great Britain in July
1937, under the Presidency of Professor R. G. Stapledon, C.B.E., M.A., Director of the
Welsh Plant Breeding Station and the Imperial Bureau for Herbage Plants, Aberyst-
wyth, Wales. The previous Congresses in this series have been held in Europe and mem-
bership was more or less confined to European members, but delegates will come to
this Fourth Congress from Great Britain, the British Dominions and Colonies, U. S. A.
and numerous other countries members of the International Grassland Congress
Association (Central Office in Leipzig, Germany).
The paper-reading sessions will be held in Aberystwyth from July 13th to 19th,
but intending participants will be able to join in a tour of centres of grassland interest
and selected farms both before and after these sessions. The tour will be made partly
by motor coach and partly by rail.
Delegates can choose one of the following options :—
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Attending paper-reading sessions and local Aberystwyth
tours only . . . . . . . .
Assembling at Oxford, proceeding via. selected centres of
grassland interest to Aberystwyth and participating in
sessions and local tours . . . . . . . .
Attending paper-reading sessions and local tours, and
proceeding from Aberystwyth to Newcastle, and Edin-
burgh, where disperse . . . . . . . .
Assembling at Oxford, proceeding to Aberystwyth, attend-
ing paper-reading sessions and local tours, and proceed-
ing thence to Edinburgh, i.e., the whole tour, of which
options, 1, 2 and 3 are only parts . . . . . . . .
July
13—19
8—19
13—23
8—23
The tours have been so arranged that participants will have an opportunity to
see something of British grassland farming, including live-stock management, over
as wide a range as possible. The limits of what can be done have been set by the amount
of time available, and the obvious necessity for curtailing charges to delegates.
Special addresses will be given on certain evenings during the course of the
tour, when matters of general interest emanating from the tours will be dealt with.
These addresses will be given at Oxford, Cirencester, Aberystwyth and Newcastle.
Approximate quotations are now given for the cost of the tours. Participants
selecting option (1) will be expected to pay the Congress Fee of two pounds (sterling)
but to find their own accommodation in Aberystwyth. A list of approved hotels,
( 69 )
70
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [VII, I
hostels, etc., in Aberystwyth and the neighbourhood can be obtained from the Joint
Secretaries. The charges for the other three options are as follows :—.
Option (2).—Transport and accommodation in colleges where possible £11. Hotel
accommodation can be provided at £13 per head.
Option (3).—Transport, and accommodation in colleges where possible £11. Hotel
accommodation can be provided at £ 13 per head.
Option (4).—The complete tour. Transport, and accommodation in colleges where
possible £18. Hotel accommodation can be provided at £21 per head.
Alternative rates can be quoted for those intending to provide for their own trans-
port on tour.
As already stated the Congress Fee for the Fourth Congress is two pounds sterling
which will entitle members to attend all sessions and to receive the printed transac-
tions, including all abstracts in advance of the Congress meetings, and any other inci-
dental matter relating to the Congress. The Congress fee for wives accompanying
members will be one pound sterling and will admit to full membership but will not
entitle such members to receive a copy of the transactions.
The paper-reading sessions to be held in Aberystwyth will be divided into three
plenary and two sectionalized sessions. The sectionalized sessions will deal with the
following aspects of the grassland problem.
(1) Ecology (including surveys), pasture and range management (including
erosion control).
(2) Seeds mixtures (including lucerne for grazing); legumes for use in poor
pastures.
(3) Plant breeding, genetics, and seed production.
(4) Manures and fertilizers.
(5) Nutritive value of pastures ; fodder conservation.
(6) Grassland economics.
All particulars regarding the acceptance of papers and dates for receipt of abstracts
and paper manuscripts may be had from the Joint Secretaries, Agricultural Buildings,
Aberystwyth, Great Britain, to whom requests for the Preliminary Programme and
application form for membership and all other correspondence regarding the Congress
should be addressed.