NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
THE RÔLE OF MINERAL DEFICIENCY IN EQUINE
ABORTION *
BY
V. R. RAJAGOPALAN, G.M.V.C.
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar
(Received for publication on 6th February 1939)
THIS article is based on an investigation into an outbreak of abortion
in the Army Stud Farm at Ahmednagar. The first abortion in the outbreak
now reported occurred on the 5th March 1936 when a mare (Courteous) slipped
a nine-month foetu . At the time the case was thought to be traumatic in
origin as the mare had been observed galloping about in the paddock, but
soon after more abortions occurred in the same stud, four during March, six
in April, and one in May 1936. As a rule, there was no premonitory symptom
of approaching abortion. The animals were simply discovered to have dropp-
ed or about to drop the foetus. The expulsion of the foetus was usually
accomplished very easily without any apparent discomfort on the part of the
mare. The mares also simultaneously came into milk. Systematic recording
of temperature revealed no pyrexia prior to abortion. No clinical or patho-
logical symptoms were observed as a sequelae to the abortions, except in two
instances in which slight metritis and laminities were present. The aborted
foetuses were of apparently normal development. Post mortem examination
of these foetuses usually revealed no abnormality, except for the presence of
large quantities of pleural, pericardial and peritoneal exudates, which were
constant and very marked. In some cases the intestines were congested in
patches and in others the cortex of the kidneys was congested.
The possible causes that lead to abortion were examined in detail. Thus,
the incidence of micro-organisms commonly associated with equine abortion,
toxic factors in food, dietetic errors in food with reference to proteins, minerals
and vitamins and certain other factors were taken into consideration.
The farm occupies a considerable area, measuring roughly about one mile
and five furlongs at the longest part and one mile and a half at the broadest
part. It has about sixty paddocks divided into two lots by a public road.
The paddocks adjoining the public road have a double line of fencing, so that
animals in the farm cannot come into contact with any stray animals that
may be passing along the road. Paddocks intended for mares with foals at
foot are provided with a roofed shelter, but all other paddocks are open except
for a few stray trees. It will thus be noted that maximum advantage is taken
of the natural disinfecting power of the sun.
Arrangements for foaling are fairly satisfactory. There are two lines of
five foaling-boxes. One set of five foaling-boxes is used every alternate year.
* Read at the Indian Science Congress, Calcutta, 1938.
(415 )
416
Mineral Deficiency in Equine Abortion
The foaling-boxes have permanent roofs eight feet high at the edges and twelve
feet high at the centre. Ordinarily the sides are all kept open so that the sun
penetrates all over the ground surface. When in use the sides are tempora-
rily covered. After use, the sides are removed and the ground cleaned and
sprinkled with a disinfectant. Mares which abort are brought to the hospital
for care and treatment. The hospital stables are carefully disinfected after
occupation by such patients.
Although the general level of hygiene and management were sufficiently
effective to prevent the spread of bacterial infection, a careful examination
was made to ascertain the presence of various micro-organisms that are known
to cause abortion. Material was examined from twelve mares that had
aborted. The results are tabulated below :—
No. and name of
mare
382. Courteous . .
361. Allegiance . .
365. Splendid . .
345. Antirhinnum .
344. September .
Elinga . . .
Material examined
Serum from mare . .
Heart blood of foetus.
Vaginal discharge . .
Serum from mare . .
Serum from mare . .
Vaginal discharge . .
Heart blood of foetus . .
Foetal pleural fluid . .
Foetal abdominal fluid. .
Serum from mare . .
Vaginal discharge . .
Heart blood of foetus . .
Foetal pleural fluid . .
Foetal abdominal fluid .
Serum from mare . .
Vaginal swab . .
Serum from mare . .
Uterine discharge . .
Heart blood of foetus . .
Pleural fluid of foetus
.
Abdominal fluid of foetus .
Organisms isolated
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Micrococci.
Negative for S. abortus equi
and other significant micro-
organisms.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Negative for S. abortus equi
or other significant micro-
organisms.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Negative for S. abortus equi
or other significant micro-
organisms.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Micrococci.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Str. pyogenes.
Str. subacidus.
Str. faecalis.
Str. faecalis.
V.
R.
RAJAGOPALAN
417
No. and name of
mare
328. Amazement .
393. Mosul . .
337. Affable . .
Foal of Venus .
Died soon afterbirth.
375. mare . .
392. Ishbel . .
Material examined
Serum from mare . .
Uterine discharge . .
Heart blood of foetus . .
Pleural fluid of foetus . .
Abdominal fluid of foetus .
Heart blood of foetus . .
Serum from mare . .
Serum from mare . .
Uterine discharge . .
Lung of foetus .
Stomach fluid foetus . .
Heart blood.
Stomach contents
Kidney . . . .
Rectum . . . .
Uterine discharge . .
Serum from mare . .
Vaginal discharge . .
Heart blood of foetus. .
Abdominal fluid of foetus .
Pleural cavity . . .
Organisms isolated
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Str. ignavus.
Str. pyogenes.
Micrococcus
Str. faecalis.
Alcaligenes faecalis.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Sterile.
Haemolytic Esch. coli. and Str.
pyogenes. Str. ignavus.
Sterile.
Esch. coli. haemolytic.
Sterile.
Esch. coli. low haemolytic.
Esch. coli.
Str. anhaemolyticus.
Negative by agglutination test
for S. abortus equi.
Str. faecalis.
Esch. coli. (Titre for mares'
serum was 500).
Ditto.
Str. faecalis.
In addition, samples of sera obtained from all the adult animals in the
stud submitted to an agglutination test against antigens made from S. abortus
equi and the coliform organism isolated from the foetus of mare Affable (Ap-
pendix 1). Of the 72 animals so tested, none gave a positive reaction
against S. abortus equi. Five of these, however, gave a suspicious titre against
the coliform organism, showing a titre of 500. However, none of the aborted
animals were among those giving this suspicious reaction.
To sum up the results of the bacteriological examinations, in no instance
was S. abortus equi associated as an etiological' factor. Out of twelve lots of
material examined, only three were positive for Streptococcus pyogenes, and
418
Mineral Deficiency in Equine Abortion
five positive for Escherichia coli. Some of these coliform organisms were
found to be very virulent for the rabbit, producing haemorrhagic enteritis and
nephritis. Even killed cultures produced death showing that this organism
produced a potent toxin. But these five coliform organisms were not identi-
cal. They fell into three distinct groups biochemically. On account of this
fact, and also because these organisms were not associated with all, or even
a majority of cases, it was not possible to attach a primary etiological signifi-
cance to either of them. They may have played a secondary role in those
cases in which they occurred, but this aspect of the matter will be discussed
later.
Dimock and Edwards [1936] claimed to have demonstrated the presence
of a virus in connection with epizootic abortion in mares and as the nature of
the outbreak and the post mortem findings in the aborted foetuses were similar
in this case to the cases reported by them, an attempt was made to ascertain
if a virus were present. As there was no point in inoculating stock from the
same farm, two pregnant guinea-pigs were obtained from Poona. These were
inoculated with material from ' Affable ' which had just aborted and from
its foetus. The material consisted of blood and vaginal material from the
mare and peritoneal and pleural fluids from the aborted foetus. These guinea-
pigs did not abort.
According to Calavrias [1930] cold very often leads to abortion in mares.
This is said to be brought about by the congestion of the internal capillaries
including that of the uterus, consequent on the constriction of the cutaneous
capillary blood vessels. The greater the humidity of the atmosphere, the
more pronounced will be the effect of cold. Attention was therefore paid to
this point. Examination of meteorological data showed that weather condi-
tions were not unfavourable.
The question of imbalanced rations was also examined but as the same
schedule of rations had been in use for several years, and they were always
obtained from the same source, it was deemed likely that the composition
of the diet, as far as proteins, carbohydrates or fats were concerned, had
nothing to do with this outbreak.
Calavrias (loc cit.) states that beetroot and silage that has undergone
diastatic fermentation may lead to abortion. Silage and beetroot were not
fed to mares at Ahmednagar so there was no chance of intoxication on this
account. On the other hand, the kirby that was fed to the mares was found to
be infected with smut (Ustilago hordei). But this smut could not have been
the cause of abortion as a month and half after this source was suspected and
withheld, abortions still continued to take place ; in addition pregnant guinea-
pigs fed with the food materials (including the kirby), that had been consumed
by the mares, did not abort.
On a superficial examination, it appeared that most of the abortions
had taken place in the mares that had been covered by a particular stallion,
namely, Ragazzo. This appeared to be significant, because this stallion was
V.
R.
RAJAGOPALAN
421
foals were born'. Here again is an indication that deficiency in minerals
was perhaps mainly responsible for these cases of abortions.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks are due to Capt. Mc'Donald, Officer Commanding, and Mr.
Shende, Veterinary Inspector, Stud Farm, Ahmednagar, for the facility
offered for conducting this investigation, which was conducted under the
guidance of Mr. J. R. Haddow, B.Sc., M.R.C.V.S., D.V.S.M., I.V.S., Offg.
Director, Imperial Vetinary Research Institute, Mukteswar. I am also grateful
to Dr. N. D. Kehar, Biochemist, and Mr. Das Gupta, Offg. Biochemist, who
carried out the mineral estimations.
I am also indebted to Mr. V. R.
Gopalakrishnan, Veterinary Inspector, for his help in carrying out the
agglutination tests and in the bacteriological examination of the material.
REFERENCES
Calavrias, G. (1930). Contribution to the etiology of abortions in the mare.
Rec. Med. Vet. 106, 613
Davidson, H. R. (1930). J. Agri. Sc. 20, 233
Dimock, W. W. and Edwards, P. R. (1932). Infections of foetuses and foals. Vet.
Bull. (1934)4, 174
—(1936).
The differential diagnosis of equine
abortion with special reference to a hitherto undescribed form of epizootic abortion
of mares. Cornell Vet. 26, 231
Errington, B. J. (1937). Variations in inorganic phosphorus and calcium content of
horses. Cornell Vet. 27, 1
Fraser, A. H. H., Godden, W. and Thomson, W. (1933). The effect of a calcium de-
ficient diet on pregnant ewes. Vet. J. 89, 408
Gillain, J. (1937). Essais do prevention de l'avortement epizootique des bovides par le
pre-avar. Amer. Med. Vet. 82, 409
Hart, G. H. (1930). The scientific principles of nutrition with special reference to per.
centage calf crop in Range cattle. 11th Internat. Vet. Cong. 3, 908
Kossmag, M. (1931). Quoted by Tech. Bull. No. 2, Imperial Bureau of Animal Nutri-
tion
Magnusson, H. (1935). Epizootic abortion in mares. Abstr. Vet. Bull. (1936), 6, 357
Meigs, E. B. (1926-27). Evidence that nutritional deficiencies are factors in the problems
of abortion and sterility in dairy cattle. J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assn. 70, 855
Miessner, H. and Koser, A. (1934). Ninth and tenth collective report of the Reich centre
for the campaign against diseases of breeding animals and of new born livestock
Abstr. Vet. Bull. (1935). 5, 172
Moussu, R. (1935). Contagious Bovine Abortion—A New Treatment. Rec. Med.
Vet. 111, 12, pp. 905-919
Wall, S. (1936). Faulty feeding as the cause of abortions in mares. Acta Path
Microbiol., 26-27, 154
422
Mineral Deficiency in Equine Abortion
APPENDIX (I)
The result of agglutination test of the blood sera of the brood mares and stallions
against S. abortus equi and Esch. coli.
No. or name of the animal
316
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
342 . . . . . . . .
30 . . . . . . . .
394 . . . . . . . .
383 . . . . . . . .
23 . . . . . . . .
Abbot's Jock
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
27 . . . . . . . .
364 . . . . . . . .
28 . . . . . . . .
Amsel . . . . . . . .
388
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
385 . . . . . . . .
24 . . . . . . . .
346 . . . . . . . .
Alicia . . . . . . . .
373 . . . . . . . .
Allswell . . . . . . . .
360 . . . . . . . .
32 . . . . . . . .
359 . . . . . . . .
377 . . . . . . . .
Mountain dancer
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
31 . . . . . . . .
Mattimol
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
35 . . . . . . . .
Tearful . . . . . . . .
374 . . . . . . . .
367 . . . . . . . .
391 . . . . . . . .
368 . . . . . . . .
Fabulus . . . . . . . .
Sweety . . . . . . . .
358 . . . . . . . .
375 . . . . . . . .
381 . . . . . . . .
332 . . . . . . . .
341 . . . . . . . .
395 . . . . . . . .
301 . . . . . . . .
Situna . . . . . . . .
22 . . . . . . . .
379 . . . . . . . .
Titre against
S. abortus equi
50
10
10
50
50
100
100
Nil
10
100
Nil
100
50
50
50
50
100
100
100
50
100
100
100
50
100
100
10
100
5000
100
100
100
100
50
50
50
100
100
50
100
50
100
50
Each, coli
100
50
50
50
500
100
50
100
50
500
50
50
10
100
500
100
50
100
10
50
100
100
100
50
10
50
10
100
500
10
50
50
100
100
50
50
50
100
50
50
100
500
10
V.
R.
RAJAGOPALAN
423
No. or name of the animal
294 . . . . . . . .
313 . . . . . . . .
Skysign . . . . . . . .
Skysign . . . . . . . .
Rarewine . . . . . . . .
29 . . . . . . . . .
25 . . . . . . . . .
387 . . . . . . . .
Spanish . . . . . . . .
354 . . . . . . . .
351 . . . . . . . .
346 . . . . . . . .
378 . . . . . . . .
Truro . . . . . . . .
361 . . . . . . . .
392 . . . . . . . .
363 . . . . . . . .
365 . . . . . . . .
382 . . . . . . . .
390 . . . . . . . .
387 . . . . . . . .
244 . . . . . . . .
343 . . . . . . . .
Titre against
S. abortus equi
100
50
50
100
50
50
100
10
50
50
50
100
10
10
50
50
10
50
10
10
50
100
10
Esch. coli
50
10
10
50
100
10
50
10
50
10
10
50
50
10
10
50
10
10
50
10
10
50
50
NOTE.—In order to find out the titro of normal equine sera against the Esch. coli
serum taken from twelve healthy horses at Mukteswar were put to agglutination test
against the coliform organism. The titre ranged from 25 to 100 and in some instances
to 200, but none gave a titre of 400 or over.
424
Mineral Deficiency in Equine Abortion
APPENDIX (II)
The calcium level of some of the mares that aborted at about the time of abortion
and the calcium level of the same mares about two years after the introduction
of mineral supplement when they had ceased to abort
No. or name of the mare
392 . . . .
382 . . . .
344 . . . .
361 . . . .
351 . . . .
365 . . . .
387 . . . .
363 . . . .
378 . . . .
390 . . . .
346 . . . .
343 . . . .
Truro . . . .
Date of
abortion
14-4-36
6-3-36
15-4-36
8-3-36
15-3-36
9-3-36
aborted
in foal
Blood calcium
in mgm. per
100 c. c. at
the time of
abortion
10.0
8.0
8.5
8.7
9.0
8.6
9.0
8.1
8.3
9.7
8.57
7.71
7.9
Blood calcium and phospho-
rus on 15th February 1938
after they have been on a
mineral supplement for one
year and nine months and
when abortion had ceased
Calcium
11.55
13.7
15.4
13.2
14.0
13.1
15.0
13.0
15.0
13.2
13.8
14.5
14.4
Phosphorus
2.55
3.25
3.78
2.47
3.27
2.9
3.46
2.56
2.21
3.59
3.13
4.06
3.38
INTESTINAL PARAMPHISTOMIASIS OF SHEEP IN SIND
(A PRELIMINARY REPORT)
BY
H. S. BAWA, M. R. C. V. S.
Veterinary Investigation Officer, Sind and Ajmer-Merwara, Karachi-Saddar
(Received for publication on 24th January 1939)
INTRODUCTION
IN January 1938, a report was received by the Director of Veterinary
Services, Sind, from the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, Tatta, saying that the
treatment with solution of copper sulphate and nicotine sulphate has given no
good results in a flock of sheep numbering 500 supposed to be suffering from
parasitic gastritis and the mortality continued at the rate of two or three
sheep a day.
The routine treatment carried out by the Civil Veterinary Department,
Sind, for parasitic gastritis is drenching sheep with a solution of copper
sulphate and nicotine sulphate and this gives good results, as has been seen
by the writer during investigations for parasitic gastritis. It was, therefore,
considered expedient that the outbreak be investigated, the disease con-
firmed and the cause of the failure of the treatment determined.
The site of outbreak was visited during February 1938 and the flock of
sheep on examination showed all the clinical symptoms of parasitic gastritis.
On inquiry from the herdsmen, it was found that they had never noticed any
worms in the stomach or intestines of the dead sheep. The writer was in-
formed by the Veterinary Assistant Surgeon that before starting the treatment
he never had an opportunity of making a post mortem examination to ascertain
whether the trouble was due to worms as the herdsmen were unwilling to sac-
rifice even a single sheep for this purpose. As there was no dead sheep available
that morning, it was decided to purchase one sheep for post mortem examina-
tion.
The post mortem evidence and naked eye examination of faeces revealed
the presence of minute whitish bodies, which, when pressed between two slides
and examined under a microscope, were found to be immature forms of
amphistomes. These numerous forms were found attached to the mucous
coat of the duodenum and other portions of small intestines and a small number
was found in the large intestines. Few Stilesia globipunctata were also present
in the small intestines. No nematodes were found in the abomasum, caecum
and the intestines. It is generally considered that Paramphistomes are harm-
less parasites; it may be true in the case of adult parasites, but immature
forms appear to be pathogenic. Losses in sheep due to immature forms of
( 425 )
426
Intestinal Paramphistomiasis of Sheep in Sind
Cotylophoron cotylophorum are known in South Africa, where the condition
has been investigated by Le Roux [1930]. In Sind, deaths in sheep were
recorded by Haji [1935] due to immature forms of P. cervi. Recently in
Assam, Pande [1935] recorded deaths in cattle due to immature forms of
P. cervi. These immature forms cause more harm than it is realized at present.
SYMPTOMATOLOGY
Affected sheep become dull, weak and anaemic with pallor of visible
mucous membranes.
In advanced cases Oedema of the sub-maxillary space was present, which
attained its greatest prominence in the evening but subsided or was consider-
ably reduced during the day. This symptom has also been recorded by Walker
[1906] and Shahi [1936-37]. This was a very characteristic clinical symptom
The oedema of the abdomen has also been noticed. Later on persistent foetid.
diarrhoea developed. In some cases, traces of blood were also found in faeces,
showing evidence of haemorrhage in the small intestines. When liquid faeces
were examined closely with the naked eye or under the microscope, numerous
young forms of Paramphistomes were observed. There was no rise in
temperature. The animals died mainly of exhaustion resulting from
diarrhoea within a period varying from 10 to 15 days.
During the investigation, the grazing grounds were also examined, but
no snails were seen. On inquiry it was found that the sheep contracted the
infection in some other parts of the country, which was said to be inundated,
low-lying and marshy. The herdsmen in Sind have no permanent abode, but
they move about from place to place, wherever good grazing is available.
POST MORTEM FINDINGS
The carcase was emaciated and the anal region was soiled with faeces.
The consistence of the adipose tissue of the whole carcase was whitish and
cheesy. This was a very striking lesion which was noticed as soon as the skin
of the carcase was removed.
The abdominal cavity contained about 400 c.c. of clear fluid, which was
odourless. Muscles were found atrophied and anaemic in appearance. Abo-
masum was slightly congested and only three Haemonchus contortus were
collected. Liver was soft, friable and fatty changes were noticed, and no
liver-flukes were encountered. Gall-bladder was slightly enlarged and con-
tained about 40 c.c. of normal bile.
Mouth, tongue, pharynx, oesophagus, larynx, lungs, heart, spleen,
pancreas and kidneys were normal.
A few adult P. cervi were present in the rumen and no adult forms of
Cotylophoron cotylophorum were found. Caecum was slightly congested, and
free from nematode worms. Main changes were noticed in the entire length of
duodenum and small intestines. Numerous immature amphistomes were
found embedded in the mucous coat of the duodenum and the small intestines,
H. S.
BAWA
427
setting up varying degree of inflammation and pin-head haemorrhages. In-
testinal contents were fluid, foetid and mixed with mucous and blood. In
the small intestines Stilesia globipunctata were also found. Pieces of duode-
num and intestines showed lesions of chronic verminous enteritis on histo-
pathological examination.
There was a pronounced thickening of the intestinal mucosa and conges-
tion of blood vessels. Colon and rectum showed no abnormality. As only few
adult parasites were found in the rumen and reticulum, it shows that animals
must have swallowed the encysted cercaria sometime during the months of
September and October. On being swallowed by the sheep the encysted
cercaria is liberated in the intestines and settles down there by attaching
itself to the mucosa in part of small and large intestines for the first part of its
life in the host. It takes six to ten weeks [Le Roux, 1930] before the imma-
ture flukes migrate forward from the intestines to the rumen and recticulum,
where they grow into adults from two to four months.
TREATMENT
Little evidence is available at the present moment as to the effective treat-
ment against these immature forms of amphistomes. Danistol capsules are
said to give good results, but were not tried on account of the prohibitive
cost of the drug.
Le Roux [1930] recommended carbon tetrachloride in doses of 8-10 c.c.
for sheep. It was therefore decided to try this drug. Before giving such a
large dose of this drug, i.e. 8 c.c. a sheep, three sheep were selected for trial
dosing and were given 5 c.c., 7 c.c. and 8 c.c. of carbon tetrachloride in
15, 13 and 12 c. c. of sweet oil respectively. The sheep which received
8 c.c. had a fit of severe coughing and immediately after drenching
had staggering gait and then unable to move. Calcium lactate was not
given just to see how the sheep behaved to the toxic effects of the drug.
After three hours, it regained the normal gait and looked apparently well. On
the third day this sheep was very dull and was not keen to graze. This shows
that the dose of 8 c.c. of carbon tetrachloride is not absolutely safe for Indian
sheep ; so the dose of 7 c.c. in 13 c.c. of sweet oil was decided upon and 63
sheep were drenched with it. Maldars were not prepared to get their
entire flock treated. Only those individuals which were badly infected were
treated. After 6 to 12 hours, half of the sheep so drenched passed liquid
motions, intermixed with mucous and numerous immature forms of amphi-
stomes. On visiting the place again after 24 hours, it was seen that three
sheep developed tympany and these were treated with oil of turpentine with
good results.
One sheep died on the third day and another one on the sixth day after
the treatment; the deaths may be due to toxic action of carbon tetrachloride
or through the disease itself. This could not be ascertained with certainty
as the animals were not available for post mortem. The remaining 61
animals improved greatly after this treatment. It is therefore evident that
N