NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
BACHAN SINGH 281
(d) What complications, if any, may arise in goats as to render the use
of virus unfit for vaccination ?
(e) How should the virus be distributed in the field during all seasons
and varying weather conditions ?
(f) What is the extent of loss in condition and milk yield that may be
occasioned in the cattle after vaccination ?
(g) By what method of feeding of adjuncts to normal food during all
seasons of the year can sufficient Vitamin A be introduced in the
animal system, so as to prevent the loss of flesh and milk yield
after vaccination ?
(h) What are the common protozoan diseases such as piroplasmosis,
trypanosomiasis and coccidiosis which may resuscitate with
vaccination ?
(i) What is the extent of loss that may be caused due to above complica-
tions after vaccination ?
(j) What remedial and control measures could be applied in the field
so as to check the mortality on that account ?
(k) How and under what circumstances can goat virus vaccination be
undertaken during actual outbreaks of rinderpest in the field ?
(l) At what minimum age cattle could be vaccinated so as to confer
the maximum period of immunity against the disease ?
(m) What may the maximum period of immunity be in the different
breeds of cattle in the Central Provinces ?
PRODUCTION OF VIRUS
The blood virus was originally obtained from Muktesar laboratory in
August 1935, and was kept alive by regular " passage " through local goats
and remained potent till the termination of the scheme when its manufacture
was stopped. It had undergone as many as 263 " passages " without showing
any deterioration in its virulence which could be judged from the type of reac-
tions shown by cattle. Similarly the local strain of virus was " passaged "
191 times without loosing potency (The details are given in Appendix B).
The reactions produced by blood virus both in cattle and buffaloes of
indigenous local breed have been observed to be of the usual mild type except
that in buffalo-calves there has been some tendency for developing more marked
type of reactions, both clinical and thermal, but in the majority of cases
recovery was the sequence. This shows that the reaction set up by goat virus
varies in accordance with the local conditions, breed of animals, as well as
individual susceptibility. However, in the light of the above experience no
hard and fast rules could be made out which suit the general needs and require-
ments of each and every province, therefore, in view of these, adjustments
have to be made according to the local conditions.
282
Goat Virus Vaccination in the Central Provinces & Berar
PRODUCTION OF TISSUE VIRUS
During the period when the virus-producing centre remained at Saugor,
a lot of difficulties were encountered in the manufacture of tissue virus as there
was no adequate and proper accommodation available for its preparation; hence
it could not be introduced earlier in the province. The manufacture of goat
blood virus was started at Saugor from the very beginning and the seed material
was obtained from Muktesar laboratory. On certain occasions when there
was a rush of work the virus was manufactured in the villages at the scene of
activities of the field staff with satisfactory results. With the change of head-
quarters to Nagpur in September 1936, where better laboratory facilities exist
the manufacture of tissue virus was started and the provincial laboratory staff
was also trained in its manufacture with a view to introduce this method of
vaccination on a large scale in the Province.
REACTION IN CATTLE
It has been noticed that the reaction in the case of tissue virus is milder
than that of blood virus both in cattle and buffaloes, and in old animals it
is usually imperceptible. In such cases the duration of immunity is bound
to be of short interval, which is decidedly a disadvantage of tissue virus when
compared with " blood virus " which on account of its potent nature of reac-
tion confers a more lasting immunity.
BLOOD VIRUS " LOCAL STRAIN "
This second strain was originally drawn from a case of rinderpest and
after the 40th " passage " through goats it became attenuated for local cattle.
Since then it has been used in a large number of animals both cattle and
buffaloes of indigenous breed with satisfactory results, though the reactions
produced in buffalo-calves especially, have been observed to be of severe type
but without being fatal. After the 80th " passage " the local virus became
milder in its reaction for buffaloes as well, and thereafter it did not show any
further attenuation and became " fixed " in its virulence. The total number
of animals inoculated with it comes to 46,767, including buffaloes.
TISSUE VIRUS " LOCAL STRAIN "
The intensity of reaction among local indigenous cattle was observed
to be akin to that of " Muktesar strain " " blood virus " and hence was more
potent and of more uniform nature than the Muktesar strain " tissue virus ".
With this method as many as 58,311 animals were vaccinated and the results
have been very encouraging.
The main problems comprising the programme of work under the scheme
as already mentioned above were thoroughly studied and the conclusions
arrived at after a comprehensive investigation are discussed below seriatim.
BACHAN SINGH 283
(a) The best method of obtaining virus, Muktesar or local
A systematic investigation carried on under the scheme has proved
that Muktesar strain of virus which had been maintained at that laboratory
since 1927, when Dr. Edwards for the first time was able to " attenuate "
rinderpest virus, is absolutely harmless both for indigenous and imported cattle
and owing to its low virulence it can safely be used for the latter class of animals
along with a small dose of serum. Moreover, for the indigenous breed of buffaloes
it has been found to be equally harmless in this Province which perhaps is due
to the influence of some local conditions, for, in other provinces, the " virus
alone " method has led to some serious complications and severe reactions in
this class of animals. In heavy milch buffaloes possessing unknown suscep-
tibility to rinderpest, it is always a wise policy to give a small dose of serum
along with virus with a view to obviate the risk of severe reactions, and more-
over, by this method the loss in milk yield is prevented to a great extent.
From experience with indigenous cattle, the " virus alone " method is an
ideal method for general adoption in the field both on preventive and pro-
phylaxis scale against rinderpest, and is now largely used in the Province.
(b) The number of passages required for the fixation of local virus
About the beginning of 1936 the above problem came under study at
Saugor. The virus was obtained from an actual case of rinderpest and it
was given to a buffalo-calf which developed pathagnomonic symptoms of the
disease. At the height of thermal reaction the virus was drawn from the
buffalo-calf and injected into two healthy goats which similarly developed a
typical rinderpest reaction both clinical and thermal. The virus at the
height of their thermal reaction was drawn from both the goats and inoculated
into two new healthy goats, and in this manner the " passage " of virus was
continued in series of goats, on every fourth day and at each passage its viru-
lence was tested in buffalo-calves. After the 30th passage onwards it was
observed that the virus started becoming milder in its antigenic properties
with the result that on the 40th " passage " when it was tested on a batch of
fifteen animals all of them withstood inoculation. Except diarrhoea which
was observed only in a few animals no other complications were noticeable.
From the 40th " passage " onwards the virus was used in cattle with
very good results in a number of villages in Saugor district. At the 80th
passage the virus became still milder in its reaction for indigenous breed of
buffaloes. In all 105,078 head of cattle including 19,558 buffaloes were in-
oculated with local strain of blood and tissue virus with good results, the same
as in the case of Muktesar virus. (The details of these inoculations are given
in Appendix C).
284 Goat Virus Vaccination in the Central Provinces & Berar
(c) The suitable age of goats for virus production
The above problem was not studied from a statistical point of view due
to lack of funds and proper facilities, but from the field point of view the ex-
perience gained in relation to this problem shows that the age considered most
suitable for production of goat virus is 2 to 3 years. At this age the ani-
mals, being in the prime of life show a regular form of reaction both thermal
and clinical to virus inoculation which is a great guide for a field worker, and
the maximum quantity of virus can be drawn, which is another great advantage.
Male goats are preferable due to the fact that female goats injected when
pregnant are liable to abortion followed by other complications which are apt
to render the virus unsafe for vaccination. In view of the above as far as
possible, pregnant animals should be avoided for virus production. Sheep
are not suitable for virus production for the reason that the reaction set up by
goat virus in them is not at all reliable, being of an erratic nature. Bleeding
of this species of animals is also another difficulty one has to consider.
(d) Complications in goats which render the virus unsafe for use
No serious complications were observed in virus producers. In one
goat which died suddenly on the date of bleeding after showing symptoms of
diarrhoea, post mortem examination revealed septicaemic condition and on
examination of smears made from the liver and heart, the presence of organisms
resembling Pasteuralla Oviseptica was detected under the microscope.
The other complication observed was incidence of " contagious ecthy
ma " which was responsible for the wholesale affection of goats during the
rainy season at Saugor during 1935-36, 1936-37 and at Nagpur during 1937-38,
but the virus from such goats was found to be harmless for cattle and
the disease appeared to be of a non-transmissible character. The only dis-
advantage found was that the thermal and clinical reactions of the affected
goats were apt to be misleading, hence in such cases greater care is essential
in interpretation of reaction on the part of an operator. Any other serious
complication like Anthrax was never seen though goats do get the disease which
is known to be cent per cent fatal in them. It is always the best policy to
select healthy young goats for the purpose of virus manufacture and they should
be kept under observation for at least twenty-four hours before the virus is
given to them and blood smears should be examined under the microscope.
On the date of bleeding it is highly essential that their blood smears should be
examined and this procedure should be rigidly followed.
(e) The distribution of virus in the field during all seasons
This most important problem was thoroughly looked into during the
operation of the scheme. As long as activities of the goat virus staff remained
confined to Saugor district only, no difficulty was experienced in the supply of
BACHAN SINGH 285
virus to them as the virus was usually made available on the scene of their
activities within forty-eight hours of its bleeding. When a large number of
cattle were available for inoculation and the place was situated in the interior
far from any approach road, it was found very convenient to produce virus at
the scene of activities, but this method cannot be made use of at every place
due to lack of proper facilities for bleeding of goats. Moreover, it was objected
to by a certain class of people in villages.
The practical method for sending virus to a distant place where rail-
way connection is available is to collect the virus in small-sized bottles of 2
oz. capacity and pack them in a small wooden box specially made for this pur-
pose. In the winter season the virus sent in such a manner can be kept potent
and fit for use for at least 120 hours, but during the intense heat of summer it
begins to deteriorate in a short time, and consequently needs more care in
packing, etc. The procedure followed hitherto was to pack virus bottles in a
box, in either sawdust or ordinary straw, filled up with ice, and despatch it by
railway parcel. In this manner the virus can be kept alive up to 72
hours from the time of its bleeding. In the case of tissue virus such precautions
are not necessary ; after careful ampulling the virus remains in good condition
for 10-12 days during winter and 5-6 days in summer. Moreover, its
distribution to the field staff is very convenient by ordinary post with very
little expense. From a laboratory centrally located, the tissue virus can easily
be made available to the district staff throughout the province all the year
round, which undoubtedly is its greatest advantage over blood virus. How-
ever, from personal experience in dealing with this problem, no hard and fast
rule can be made; adaptations have to be made to suit the local conditions.
(f) Loss of condition and milk yield after vaccination
The most disquieting factor resulting from the " goat virus alone " method
hitherto observed was loss in milk yield both in cattle and buffaloes. Every
possible endeavour was made by the staff working in different localities to
obtain data relating to this problem, but they had to depend solely upon
information received from cattle owners during the course of investigation, and
this was of such a conflicting nature that it cannot be taken as accurate enough
for drawing final conclusions.
The information received, however, goes to show that after goat virus
vaccination the milk yield is decidedly affected, particularly in those animals
which are not properly cared for during the reaction period, and that loss in
yield varies from 20 to 50 per cent. With a view to determine the exact loss
in milk yield after active immunization by different methods, viz., blood virus,
tissue virus and blood-cum-serum, a small scale experiment was arranged at
the Agricultural College Dairy, Nagpur. The summary of the experiment is
as follows :—
Altogether eleven milch animals were selected and divided into three
groups. The first group comprising one buffalo and a cow, and to both of them
288 Goat Virus Vaccination in the Central Provinces & Berar
immunity observed so far in this Province was three and a half years. This
test was carried out at Garhi farm, where a batch of four vaccinated animals
proved immune to bull virus and showed neither any clinical nor thermal
reaction.
As regards the question of immunity established in the case of tissue
virus it has not been tested beyond one year's duration. Further tests will be
carried out in the near future in order to determine the duration of immunity.
VACCINATION OF NOMADIC HERDS
During the period the scheme remained in operation in Saugor district,
opportunities were taken to popularise goat virus vaccination among nomadic
cattle dealers who import cattle into the province from Gwalior and Bhopal
states. By our systematic propaganda and repeated persuasion it was possible
to make those dealers realise the great value of the method of vaccination with
the result that now they themselves press for inoculation of their herds.
TATTOOING AND BRANDING
An important problem which unfortunately could not be tackled under
the scheme is that of marking of animals vaccinated with goat virus for the
purpose of identification. In some animals tattooing was tried without any
material success due to the complexity of the process, and moreover, it was
objected to by the villagers. Branding was also given a trial on the face and
neck regions in a number of animals but it had to be abandoned due to the same
reasons stated above.
CONCLUSIONS
The investigation has led to the following conclusions :—
(i) A fixed goat virus (blood and tissue) " Muktesar strain " is virulent
for goats but possesses a low virulence for cattle of indigenous
breeds.
(ii) Blood virus Muktesar strain has been found to be equally safe for
local bred buffaloes in this province.
(iii) A local strain of virus has been found to be quite safe, for cattle
after the 40th " passage " through goats, and for buffaloes of
local breed after 80th " passage ".
(iv) Tissue virus prepared from both the strains " Muktesar " and
"Local" have been given extensive trials.
(v) Both types of vaccine (blood and tissue) have proved efficacious in
dealing with rinderpest outbreaks.
(vi) In imported breed of cattle, and in milking buffaloes (Murrha and
Surti breed) virus-cum-serum method of inoculation is recom-
mended. This obviates the risk of severe reaction as well as
loss of milk yield.
(vii) The lowest period of immunity tested so far was 3½ years in the
case of blood virus, and it is anticipated that it would prove to
be potent for longer periods.
BACHAN SINGH 289
(viii) Besides its cheapness in cost, the other great advantage in the case
of goat blood and tissue virus is that, if extensive inoculations are
carried out in an area on a prophylactic basis, the chances for
spread of infection from vaccinated to non-vaccinated animals
are very remote.
In conclusion it may be mentioned that apart from the large amount of
valuable scientific data dealing with the various aspects of goat virus
vaccination obtained under this scheme, the Province has been materially
benefited by this mass inoculation of cattle in certain areas where those cattle
will remain immune to the disease at least for three to four years to come.
Another great advantage is that goat virus vaccination has been made very
popular among the local people and nomadic cattle dealers and has thereby
facilitated the working of the Cattle Disease Act which will be enforced very
shortly. With the successful working of the Act, it is hoped that the incidence
of rinderpest, which is responsible for heavy mortality in cattle every year,
will be greatly reduced in the near future.
APPENDIX A
Statement showing the number of inoculations performed with different
strains of goat virus during the last three years from 15th March 1935
to 14th March 1938.
Year
1935-36 . .
1936-37 . .
1937-38 . .
Total .
Total
number
of
villages
414
806
733
1,953
No. of
inocula-
tions
performed
with
blood
virus
"Muktesar
strain "
111,982
71,278
21,353
204,613
No.
of
inocula-
tions
performed
with
blood
virus
" Local
strain "
...
27,526
19,241
46,767
No.
of
inocula-
tions
performed
with
tissue
virus
"Muktesar
strain "
3,858
22,513
44,565
70,936
No.
of
inocula-
tions
performed
with
tissue
virus
" Local
strain "
...
19,141 39,170
58,311
No.
of
inocula-
tions
performed
with
serum
simul-
taneous
method
1,275
719
...
1,994
Total
117,115
141,177
124,329
382,621
Remarks
Total number of inoculations performed=3,82,621 in 1,953 villages.
APPENDIX B
Statement showing the number of strains, number of goats, etc., used for virus
production, during the last three years, from 15th March 1935 to 14th March
1938.
Year
1935-36 . . . .
1936-37
.
.
.
.
1937-38
.
.
.
.
Total .
" Muktesar strain "
Number
of
goats
used
304
231
95
630
Number
of
goats
slaugh-
tered for
tissue
virus
...
29 39
68
Number
of
passages
undergone
95
184
263
...
" Local strain "
Number
of
goats
used
75
250
94
419
Number
of
goats
slaugh-
tered for
tissue
virus
...
18 32
50
Number
of
passages
undergone
125
108
191
...
Remarks
290 Goat Virus Vaccination in the Central Provinces & Berar
APPENDIX C
Statement showing the number of buffaloes vaccinated with goat virus during the
last three years, from 15th March 1935 to 14th March 1938.
Year
1935-36
.
.
.
.
.
.
1936-37 . . . . . .
1937-38
.
.
.
.
.
.
Total .
Blood virus
Muktesar
strain
20,516
15,766
3,510
39,792
Tissue virus
Muktesar
strain
1,007
5,235
6,306
12,548
Blood virus
local
strain
...
4,493
2,733
7,226
Tissue virus
local
strain
...
5,160
7,172
12,332
Blood virus
and
serum
322
301
...
623
Total number of buffaloes vaccinated with goat virus = 72,521
APPENDIX D
Statement showing the number of blood smears examined with their results during
the last three years from 15th March 1935 to 14th March 1938.
Year
1935-36 .
1936-37 .
1937-38 .
Total .
Number
of blood
smears
examined
1,185
833
162
2,180
Number
of blood
smears
positive
for
Theleria
mutans
234
127
26
387
Number
of blood
smears
positive
for
Babesia
bigeminum
30
24
3
57
Number
of blood
smears
positive
for
Trypano¬
some
evansi
...
1
...
1
Number
of blood
smears
positive
for
Lucocy¬
tosis
...
...
1
1
Number
of blood
smears
positive
for
Filaria
infection
...
...
1
1
Remarks
Percentage of T.
mutans
17.75 per cent
Percentage of B. bigeminum
2.61 per cent
APPENDIX E
Statement showing the number of samples of faeces examined during the last three
years from, 15th March 1935 to 14th March 1938.
Year
1935-36 . . .
1936-37 . . .
1937-38
.
.
.
Total .
Number of
samples of
faeces
examined
224
47
31
302
Number of
samples
positive for
coccidiosis
153
35
18
206
Number of
samples
positive for
other infec-
tion
1 Ascaris
...
...
1
Percentage
of cases
positive for
coccidiosis
68.3
74.46
55.5
Remarks
On the whole percentage
comes to 65.5
BACHAN SINGH 291
APPENDIX F
Summary of experiment conducted on loss of milk yield in respect of Goal Viru
Vaccination
The summary of the above named experiment as referred to in the report
is given as under :—
The experiment was arranged at the Agricultural College Dairy, Nagpur.
Altogether eleven milch animals were selected and divided into three groups.
The first group comprised of a buffalo and a cow and to both of them a
minimum dose of 1 c.c. of blood virus from goat No. 768 at the
198th " passage " (Muktesar strain) was given subcutaneously and their ther-
mal and clinical reaction was observed, morning and evening, for a period of
ten days from the date of inoculation. The daily record of their yield was
maintained for 40 days, that is, 10 days prior to the inoculation and for
30 days after the inoculation.
In one of the animals (cow) which showed a typical form of reaction,:the
maximum amount of loss in yield noticed was to the extent of 52 per cent.
In the second group five animals (three buffaloes and two cows) were given a
minimum dose of tissue virus prepared locally from goat No. 768 at the 198th
"passage". In all the animals thermal and clinical reaction was observed,
both morning and evening, for a period of ten days from the date of inoculation.
Their milk yield was recorded for 4 days, i.e., 10 days prior to the inoculation
and for 30 days after the inoculation. On calculation the maximum amount of
loss in milk recorded in one of the animals (buffalo), which developed a typical
reaction, was 30 per cent.
In the third group four animals comprising two cows and two buffaloes
were selected. The same brew of virus from the same goat No. 768 at the 198th
" passage " was given to them. Along with the dose of virus, 20 c.c. of ordi-
nary class P serum was given to buffaloes and 10 c.c. to cows. In all the
animals thermal and clinical reaction was recorded for ten days and their milk
yield record was maintained for a period of 40 days, for 10 days prior to the
inoculation and 30 days after the inoculation.
The maximum loss of milk yield in one of the animals (buffalo) on calcula-
tion was found to be 25 per cent being the lowest one as compared with the
former methods of vaccination (goat blood and tissue virus alone).
The above experiment points to the conclusion that in the case of the
blood virus alone method the loss in milk yield is the highest, i.e., to the extent
of 52 per cent ; in the case of tissue virus it comes to 30 per cent; whereas in
the case of blood-cum-serum it is lowest, i.e., 25 per cent. These observations
indicate that in order to obviate the risk of loss in milk yield the blood virus¬
cum-serum. method of inoculation is the safest one to adopt.
It would appear that the highest loss in milk yield shown by three animals
(one cow and two buffaloes) in group 1, 2, 3, as per details given in Appendix
F, has been taken as " basis " for drawing final conclusion.