NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
IDENTITY OF SCHISTOSOME IN BOVINE NASAL GRANULOMA.
347
Montgomery mentions that the number of testes in this species varies from five
to nine, but the specimens at my disposal show that the actual number of testes
varies from five to twelve, a large majority, however, have only eight testes.
Montgomery is right in regard to the location of the seminal vesicle. It is a
spherical or in the majority of cases an oval, clear, refractile body, situated almost
immediately in front of the testes.
Female.—Montgomery remarks " As in the case of males, so also in that of
females, two types may be mentioned. I cannot at present regard them as distinct
species, but rather as changes due to age and muscular contraction as in the other
sex ".
Like Montgomery I too came across two kinds of females, one of which was
distinctly smaller than the other, but the characters attributed to either of them
were not restricted to them alone. In regard to the nature of the ventral sucker it
may be remarked here that it is, as in other species of this genus, protrusible.
Usually it is retracted within the body, but occasionally it is seen quite outside the
body when it appears circular. This condition may occur in any individual and
is not characteristic of aBy particular type.
In regard to the uterus I have seen both its narrow and dilated condition, but
never have I come across a case in which were arranged more than one egg in
transverse diameter. The same could be said in regard to the nature of the ovary
and vitellaria. Cases were observed in which the contents of the ovary were either
dense or loose, but neither of these conditions was characteristic of any particular
type. Dense or loose filling-in of the vitelline follicles also was found quite irres-
pective of any particular type.
Montgomery refers to the pharynx in his description, but it may be remarked
that no such structure exists in this group of animals, the whole of the family
schistosomidæ being characterised by the absence of a pharynx.
In view of the facts noticed above, a short description of the specimens at my
disposal will not be out of place here.
Male.—Length 5—13.7, width 0.558—0.78. Anterior part of body is subcylin¬
drical and the posterior one is straight, C-shaped or coiled, forming a gynæco¬
phoric canal by the inrolling of sides. Cuticle tuberculate and spiny, the tubercles
being usually of moderate size, but occasionally are very inconspicuous. The oral
sucker is subtërminal, infundibular, spiny and measures 0.18—0.31×0.14—0.246.
The ventral sucker is pedunculated, spiny and measures 0.17—0.39 in diameter and
about 0.09 in thickness. The œsophagus is 0.22—0.32 long, dilated anteriorly and
348 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [II, IV
posteriorly and is surrounded by the œsophageal glands. The intestinal cæca are
3.56—8.33 and the common cæcum 0.76—1.7 long, the former being seven to eight
times longer than the latter.
The testes are five to twelve in number, situated a little distance behind the
ventral sucker. They lie dorsoventrally and may overlap each other or be quite
separate from one another. The seminal vesicle lies immediately anterior to the
testes and measures 0.62—0.7 ×0.049—0.058. The ductus ejaculatorius opens
centrally at the anterior end of the gynæcophoric canal. The excretory bladder is
Y-shaped, the excretory pore being terminal.
Female.—Length. 6—17.6, width 0.117—0.024. The body is smooth except
at the posterior end which is covered with fine spines. The oral sucker is subter¬
minal, covered inside with spines and measures 0.036—0.05×0.022—0.033. The
ventral sucker is usually retracted in the body, but may occasionally be seen outside
it. It measures 0.024—0.034 in diameter and about 0.01 in thickness. The
œsophagus is 0.157—0.166 long. The intestinal cæca which are 3—9.46 long unite
posterior to the ovary. The common cæcum is 3.2—7.88 long. The ovary which
is elongated or oval and measures 0.246—0.58×0.089—0.13 is situated at about the
equator of the body, occasionally being slightly anterior or posterior to it. The
genital pore is situated immediately posterior to the ventral sucker. The uterus is
long, and filled with eggs. The vitellaria lie on either side of the common intes-
tinal cæcum. The shell gland is situated anterior to the ovary. The eggs are
oval with a terminal spine and measure 0.057—0.132×0.018—0.067. The uterine
eggs are smaller than those liberated in the alimentary canal.
Host.—Horse, donkey, camel, sheep, goat and cattle.
Location.—Mesenteric, pancreatic, pelvic, portal and hepatic veins.
Schistosoma bovis (Sonsino, 1876).
Synonymy.—Bilharzia bovis Sonsino, 1876.
(Plate XXX, figs. 1—3.)
B. crassa Sonsino, 1878.
B. ovis Cobbold, 1858.
B. hæmatobium crassa (Sonsino, 1878)
Kowalewski, 1875.
Gynæcophorus crassus (Sonsino, 1878)
Stossich, 1892.
G. bovis. (Sonsino, 1878)
Railliet, 1893.
Schistosoma crassum (Sonsino, 1876).
S. mattheei Veglia and Le Roux, 1929.
S. curassoni Brumpt, 1931.
IDENTITY OF SCHISTOSOME IN BOVINE NASAL GRANULOMA.
349
Through the courtesy of Major C. R. Chadwick an opportunity was afforded to
examine this species of schistosome from Bagdad. The parasites were obtained
from a cow and a sheep. Khalil [1924] gave a detailed account of this parasite and
very recently MacHattie and Chadwick [1932] examined all the important features
of this parasite very thoroughly, basing their observations on an examination of
4,000 specimens collected from sixty different animals in different localities in Iraq.
It is intended here to give a short description of this species mainly based upon the
specimens at my disposal and also incorporate into it some observations made by
MacHattie and Chadwick.
Male.—Length 15.6—19.09, width 1.38—1.6. The cuticle is covered with
tubercles and spines. The oral sucker is subterminal, covered with spines and
measures 0.34—0.36×0.3—0.34. The ventral sucker is also spiny and measures
0.35—0.38 in diameter. The gynæcophoric canal is covered with spines. The
œsophagus is 0.52—0.69 long and is surrounded anteriorly and posteriorly with a
thick covering of the œsophageal glands. The intestinal cæca are 12.22—12.4 and
the common cæcum 2.18—5.4 long. This latter ends 0.265—0.34 from the posterior
extremity and has a tendency to bifurcate and reunite one or more times during its
course. In the specimens examined the testes were four to five in number. They
are disposed dorsally in one row posterior to the ventral sucker. The seminal vesicle
is a pear-shaped body measuring approximately 0.13 in length and in one specimen
it was found to be elongated and measuring 0.047 in width. It is situated imme-
diately anterior to the testes. The genital pore is prominent and is situated imme-
diately posterior to the ventral sucker. Joining it and the vesicula seminalis is the
ductus ejaculatorius.
Female.—Length 16.8—21.1, width 0.17—0.187. MacHattie and Chadwick's
specimens measure 12—28. Cuticle is smooth. The oral sucker is small and
measures 0.043—0.048×0.043—0.049. The ventral sucker is usually retracted in
the body and measures 0.03—0.044 in diameter and 0.008 in thickness. The
œsophagus is simple and measures 0.142—0.22 long. The intestinal cæca are 9.83
—11.8 long. The common cæcum terminates 0.18—0.323 from the posterior extre-
mity and measures 5.35—9.8 in length. The comparative lengths of the body and
the common cæcum measured in seven specimens is given below :—
—
Body length
....
Length of cæcum.
1
19.3
9.3
2
20
9.77
3
20.9
10.5
4
21.1
9.8
5
16.85
5.35
6
16.8
6.3
7
17.953
5.64
350 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [II, IV
MacHattie and Chadwick have stated that the common cæcum is usually slight-
ly less than half the length of the body and rarely it is even one-fourth the body
length. The ovary is elongated and is situated immediately in front of the cæcal
union in the posterior half of the body. The shell gland lies immediately in front
of the ovary. The uterus is long and contains numerous ova. The vitellaria con-
sists of follicles slightly elongated transversely and lying on either side of the
common intestinal cæcum. They occupy usually a little less than half the body
length, but very rarely they may be confined to the last quarter of the body as
described by Khalil [1924]. The eggs are spindle-shaped, symmetrical and provided
with a blunt spine at one end. MacHattie and Chadwick also found the eggs
usually like the typical forms described by Khalil, but in 0.1 per cent. of females
they examined the eggs were oval, in 1 per cent. cases typical and hæmatobium-type
both together and in 0.2 per cent. of cases hæmatobium-type only. The eggs in the
specimens I examined measured 0.124—0.184× 0.033—0.04. MacHattie and
Chadwick state that the eggs in uterus measure 90—205×38—62 (μ and those in the
gut wall 130—260×40—95µ.
Recently Veglia and Le Roux [1929] described a new species of schistosome,
S. mattheei. The authors themselves think that the species is allied to S. bovis,
but they have pointed out four points of difference between their species and
S. bovis. These points of difference are :—
(i) Dimensions of body.
(ii) Length of common cæcum.
(iii) Measurements of egg.
(iv) Absence of the affection of the urinary tract,
Of these points the dimensions of the body cannot be given any importance
since they vary with the age; moreover, the specimens of S. bovis from Irak
measure 12.28 in length, which is even larger than the South African specimens
of Veglia and Le Roux. In regard to the length of the cæcum in three specimens
out of seven that I examined it is one-third the body length and in the remaining
four they measure approximately half the body length. Recently Brumpt [1931]
has also stated in his key that the length of the common cæcum is capable of
attaining one-half the body length. It will be seen from the table given by Veglia
and Le Roux that the length of the common cæcum is approximately half the body
length in the female. This point of difference, therefore, can also be eliminated on
account of its variable nature. The next point is in regard to the eggs. I could
only study the eggs in utero. These compare very favourably with the measure-
ments made by the joint authors, their measurements being 0.092—0.170×0.04—
0.044 and those in the specimens at my disposal being 0124—0.184×0.33—0.04.
IDENTITY OF SCHISTOSOME IN BOVINE NASAL GRANULOMA.
351
The measurements given by MacHattie and Chadwick are 90—205×38—62 μ for
the eggs in utero, and 130—260×40—95 μ. for the eggs in the gut wall, as against
160—240×60—80 μ of the South African specimens found in the same location.
Lastly it is claimed that the pathological condition produced varies in the two
cases. The species S. mattheei is said not to invade the urinary organs as was
shown for S. bovis by Sonsino [ 1876 ] and Khalil [ 1924 ]. Brumpt [ 1930 ] has
shown that when S. bovis is reared in experimental animals the infection produced
is almost invariably intestinal and this is also true of S. hæmatobium. MacHattie
and Chadwick [ 1932 ] also never discovered or did so very rarely the infection in the
urinary or pelvic structures. Their observations have shown that the infection
was essentially portal and intestinal. The site of infection, therefore, does not
help us to differentiate between the species S. mattheei and S. bovis.
It may finally be concluded, along with MacHattie and Chadwick, that
S. mattheei as described by Veglia and Le Roux, is indistinguishable from S. bovis
as it occurs in Irak, and it may be observed that the writer reached this conclusion
quite independently.
S. curassoni sp. Inquir, has been recently described by Brumpt [ 1931 ] from
the hepatic veins of cattle from south of France. The author himself is sceptical
regarding the identity of this parasite. He, however, remarks that it is very
closely allied to S. mattheei, Veglia and Le Roux, but he refuses to give any
definite opinion in regard to the identity of the species since the fully developed
eggs have not been studied. On comparing this species with S. bovis as it occurs
in Irak one cannot help thinking that Brumpt was dealing with nothing but
S. bovis. In all essential respects S. curassoni agrees with the description of
S. bovis as given by MacHattie and Chadwick. It is, however, apparent that the
specimens at the disposal of Brumpt were limited and somewhat younger in age.
The extent of the vitellaria as also the length of the common intestinal cæcum
is exactly as it occurs, as a rule, in S. bovis, viz., half the body length. The study
of the eggs of S. curassoni also leaves no doubt with regard to its identity with
S. bovis. Both Brumpt as well as MacHattie and Chadwick agree with each other
in describing them as either spindle-shaped or S. hæmatobium or S. indicum¬
type in their respective specimens. Brumpt, moreover, remarks that S. curassoni
is very closely allied to S. mattheei which in itself has been shown to be a synonym
of S. bovis. It is therefore urged here that S. curassoni be regarded as
a synonym of S. bovis. It may finally be remarked that polymorphism in eggs
appears to be the rule in many species of schistosomes. On the basis of this
hypothesis the validity of the species S. incognitum, Chandler, 1926, which is
based exclusively on the character of the egg, is very much to be doubted. It is
C
352 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCINECE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [II, IV
very likely that future investigation may prove that S. hæmatobium under certain
conditions may be able to produce slightly asymmetrical eggs like those of
S. incognitum.
Until recently the species S. bovis was known to occur only in cattle, sheep and
man (?), but MacHattie and Chadwick's researches have shown that it is found also
in goats, horses, mules and donkeys.
The species Schistosoma bomfordi Montgomery, 1906 and Schistosoma turkestani-
cum Skrjabin, 1913, have been transferred by Price [ 1929 ] to the genus
Ornithobilharzia Odhner, 1912, on the basis of their morphological similarity to the
other species of the genus. The number and position of the testes in the male and
the shape and position of the ovary in the female are so similar to those in
O. odhneri Odhner, 1912, type-species of Ornithobilharzia, that they are obviously
congeneric. The fact that both O. bomfordi and O. turkestanicum are at present
known only from mammalian hosts, is not according to Price, a matter of sufficient
importance to justify their retention in the genus schistosoma. Price remarks that
"in view of the morphological relationship of O. bomfordi and O. turkestanicum to
species occurring in birds, it may be assumed that these parasites, which are of rare
occurrence in mammalian hosts, may be only accidental and facultative parasites
of these hosts, and it may be surmised that they are normal parasites of birds of
some sort".
It is proposed here to modify the definition of the genus Ornithobilharzia in
order to suit it for the reception of the additional two species O. bomfordi and
O. turkestanicum.
Ornithobilharzia Odhner, 1912.
Synonym.—Microbilharzia Travassos, 1923.
Diagnosis.—Schistosominæ: Male with well developed gynæcophoric canal,
formed by an infolding of the lateral edges of the body. Suckers present. Cuticle
covered with spines. Digestive tract similar to that of Schistosoma. Intestinal
cæca long and showing a tendency to form several anastomoses before finally
uniting to form a cæcurn. Testes numerous (60 or more), commencing a short
distance posterior to acetabulum, and extending to posterior half of body. Cirrus
sac rudimentary or absent. Seminal vesicle free in parenchyma ; prostate absent.
Genital pore small and situated immediately posterior to acetabulum. Female
elongate and slender. Ovary elongated, loosely or tightly coiled and situated
approximately in the anterior third of body. Vitellaria extensive, occupying about
two-thirds of body length. Laurer's canal present. Uterus short and containing
but one egg at a time.
IDENTITY OF SCHISTOSOME IN BOVINE NASAL GRANULOMA.
353
Type-species.—O. intermedia Odhner, 1912.
O. turkestanicum [ Skrjabin, 1913].
Synonyms.—Schistosoma turkestanicum Skrjabin, 1913.
S. bomfordi Montgomery of Marotel, 1908.
(Plate XXXI, figs. 1—2; Plate XXXII, figs. 1—3.)
Through the courtesy of Major Chadwick an opportunity was afforded to
examine some specimens of this species from goats and sheep in Bagdad. It is
therefore proposed here to give a short description of the species based upon the
material at my disposal.
Male.—Length 6.7—8, the maximum width 0.33—0.72. The cuticle is
without tubercles. The oral sucker is subterminal, covered with spines and
measures 0.173—0.23×0.147—0.213. The ventral sucker measuring 0.192—0.25
in diameter is also covered with spines. The œsophagus shows only one posterior
dilatation and not two as described by Skrjabin [ 1913 ]. It is surrounded by the
œsophageal glands. The transverse commissures to the intestinal cæca were
confined not only to the posterior half of the body as described by Skrjabin, but
were present in some specimens throughout the length of the intestinal cæca. In
the specimens at my disposal the number of testes varied from 70 to 73 and they
were disposed centrally in one line. In some specimens they were perfectly round
while in others they were slightly elongated in a transverse direction. The genital
pore is situated immediately posterior to the ventral sucker. The vesicula
seminalis was round and measured in one case 0.225 in diameter.
Female.—Length 5.7—7.8, the maximum thickness attained in the cæcal region
is 0.86—0.112. The oral sucker measures 0.053—0.06 × 0.042 and the ventral sucker
0.022—0.023 in diameter. The œsophagus is simple and is 0.1—0.12 long. The
intestinal cæca measure 1.73—1.93 in length and unite in the anterior half of the
body. The common cæcum is 3.564—5.36 long and ends 0.233—0.33 from the
posterior extremity. The ovary is situated anterior to the cæcal union and measures
0.192—0.323 in length. Its spiral nature was visible in one case only, but this may
have been due to the lack of proper fixation of the material. The vitellaria consist
of rounded follicles situated on either side of the intestinal cæcum. They do not
reach the posterior extremity of the body as described by Skrjabin, but terminate at
or almost at the posterior extremity of the intestinal cæcum. The oviduct starts
from the posterior extremity of the ovary and after a short winding course passes
into the uterus which continues anteriorly between the two intestinal cæca. The
shell gland is situated immediately anterior to the ovary. In all the specimens
examined only one egg was found in the uterus. The eggs were quite typical with
a blunt spine at one end and an irregular process at the other. They measure
0.072—0.077 ×0.018—0.026.
c 2
354 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [II, IV
Host.—Goat, sheep.
Location.—Portal system.
Locality.—Irak (Bagdad).
In the phial containing this species of worms from a goat, there were also found
about 18 specimens which morphologically looked different from the typical
O. turkestanicum. These were smaller and had more tendency to coil than the
typical specimens which were as a rule larger and more elongated. On microscopi-
cal examination it was found that the cuticle of the smaller variety differed
essentially from the larger forms in having small tubercles on it both in the
anterior and posterior regions of the body. On closer examination of the toto¬
preparations of both the males and the females on other difference of structure was
noticed between these and the other forms. This forms therefore the second case
in which dimorphism among the males is indicated by a difference in shape of the
body accompanied by development or not of the tubercles on the cuticle. The
former case of this nature, as described previously, is that of S. spindalis Montgo-
mery, 1906.
A few measurements of the tuberculate forms of O. turkestcmicum are given
below:—
Male.—Length 3.73—3.98, width 0.5—0.66. Oral sucker 0.138—0.17×0.14.
Ventral sucker 0.196—0.27 in diameter. Œsophagus 0.223—0.278 long.
Female.—Length 3.88-4.02. Thickness 0.09—0.12. Oral sucker 0.062 in
diameter. Œsophagus 0.125 long. Cæca 1.33 and common cæcum 1.635—2.2 long,
the latter ending 0.23 from the posterior extremity. Ovary 0.27 long. Eggs
measure 0.068—0.078 ×0.020—0.028.
Host.—Goat.
Location.—Portal circulation.
Locality.—Irak (Bagdad).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
It is my pleasant duty to acknowledge my indebtedness to Major C. R.
Chadwick, M. R. C. V. S., Director, Civil Veterinary Department, Irak, for kindly
sending me the specimens of S. bovis and S. turkestanicum from Irak ; to Mr. F.
Ware, F.R.C.V.S., I.V.S., for his valuable suggestions and deep interest in the
work ; to Capt. S. C. A. Datta, B.Sc, M.R.C.V.S., for placing at my disposal
from time to time tissue from cases of nasal granuloma ; and to Mr. V. R. Raja¬
gopalan, G.M.V.C., for giving me his collection of S. indicum from a local bull.
My thanks are also due to Mr. Sunder Rao Bhutgoswami, the artist of this
Institute, for the photographs and fair copies of the figures.
IDENTITY OF SCHISTOSOME IN BOVINE NASAL GRANULOMA.
355
I wish also to record here my deep appreciation of the help rendered me in the
collection of some of the above specimens by Mr. M. R. Mahajan, M.R.C.V.S.,
and Mr. N. G. Shekharan, L.V.P.
REFERENCES.
Brumpt, E. (1930,1). Ann. Parasitol. 8, 17-50.
—
(1930, 2). Ibid. 8,257-262.
—
(1931). Ibid. 9, 325-338.
Datta, S. C. A. (1932). Ind. J. Vet. Sc. and Anim. Husb. 2,131-140.
Fairley, N. H., and Jasudasan, F. (1927). Ind. J. Med. Res., 14, 701-706.
Fairley, N. H., and Mackie, F. P. (1925). Far Eastern Assoc. Trop. Med. Sixth Biennial Congress'
Tokyo, 1, 423-446.
Khalil, M. (1924). J. Helm. 2, 81-86.
Krishnamurti Iyer, V. (1922). Mad. Vet. J. 15, 2-7.
—(1927).
Trans. F. E. A. T. M. 3, 658-664.
Liston, G., and Soparkar, M. B. (1918). Ind. J. Med. Res. 5, 567-569.
MacHattie, C., and Chadwick, C. R. (1932). Trans. Roy. Soc. Trop. Med. Hyg. 26,147-156.
Malkani, P. G. (1932). Vet. Rec. 12, 416.
Montgomery, R. E. (1906,1). J. Trop. Vet. Sc. 1, 15-46.
—(1906,2).
Ibid. 1, 138-174.
Porter, A. (1926). S. African. J. Sc. 23, 661-666.
Price, E. W. (1929). Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 75, 1-39.
Skrjabin, K. I. (1913). Zschr. f. Infeckt. kr. d. Hanotiere 13, 457-468.
*Sonsino, P. (1876). Rend. Accad. Sc. Napoli. 84-87.
Soparkar, M. B. (1921). Ind. J. Med. Res. 9, 1-22.
Veglia, F., and Le Roux, M. L. (1929). 15th Ann. Rep. Direct. Vet. Serv. U. S. Africa, 335-346.
Vryburg, A. (1906). Zbl. f. Bkt. 43, 806-809.
Explanation to Plates.
Plate XXVI.—Schistosome found in Bovine Nasal Granuloma.
Fig. 1. Entire male, lateral view.
Fig. 2. A portion of male showing tuberculate nature of cuticle. ×34.
Fig. 3. Entire female.
Fig. 4. Uterine egg, in-situ. ×155.
Plate XXVII—
Figs. 1 & 2. Different kinds of eggs in nasal discharge.
Fig. 3. Uterine eggs of S. spindalis from Kasauli.
Plate XXVIII.—Schistosoma spindalis from portal circulation of cattle.
Fig. 1. (a) Anterior end of male, (b) posterior end of male.
Fig. 2. A portion of male showing atuberculate nature of cuticle. × 62.
Fig. 3. Female genitalia.
Fig. 4. Uterine eggs.
* This reference was not accessible to me in India.
356 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [II, IV
Plate XXIX.—Schistosoma indicum.
Fig. 1. Anterior extremity of male.
Fig. 2. Female genitalia.
Figs. 3 & 4. Eggs from the intestine of hosts.
Plate XXX.—Schistosoma bovis.
Fig. 1. (a) Lateral view of the anterior extremity of male.
(b) A portion of male showing the division of the common intestinal
cæcum.
Fig. 2. Female genitalia.
Fig. 3. Uterine eggs.
Plate XXXI.—Schistosoma turkestanicum.
Fig. 1. Entire male, lateral view.
Fig. 2. Entire female.
Plate XXXII.—
Fig. 1. A portion of male showing tuberculate nature of cuticle. ×128.
Fig. 2. A portion of male showing atuberculate nature of cuticle. × 33.
Fig. 3. Uterine egg, in-situ. ×830.
Explanation to Lettering.
du. eja., Ductus ejaculatorius.
e., Egg.
ex., Excretory bladder.
g.c., Gynæcophoric canal.
i.c., Intestinal cæcum.
oes., Œsophagus.
or. su., Oral sucker.
ov., Ovary.
sh. gl., Shell gland.
t., Testis.
ut., Uterus.
vent, su., Ventral sucker.
vcs. sem., Vesicula seminalis.
vit., Vitelline follicle.
PLATE XXVI.
FIG. 1.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 4.