NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
H. D.
SRIVASTAVA
335
The spherical ovary with a diameter of 0.16 — 0.44 lies a little in front of
the anterior testis, between the compact shell gland complex and the base of
the intestine. A small Laurer's canal arises from the oviduct just before it
enters the shell gland complex. The vitellaria are composed of small, oval
follicles arranged longitudinally in pairs along the sides of the body and extend
from in front of the ovary to the anterior one fifth or eighth of body length.
The intricately coiled uterus occupies most of the space between the genital
sinus and the first quarter of the body length. The eggs are oval in shape and
deep brown in colour and measure 0.019 — 0.02 × 0.011—0.013 in size.
The excretory bladder is a simple, long, tube extending from the anterior
level of vitellaria to the hinder end where it opens to the exterior.
Odhner in 1905 created the genus Prosorhynchus for the species of Gaster¬
ostomes which possess a rhynchus at the anterior end of the body, with P.
crucibulus Rud., 1819, as the type species. A number of species have subse-
quently been described under the genus. Ozaki in 1924 described a new species,
P. uniporus, and a new trematode, Gotonius facilis, from the pyloric
appendages and intestine of Inimicus japonicus. The latter parasite has a
cylindrical body and a median ovary, in addition to possessing a rhynchus at
the anterior end. Pigulewsky [1931] described a new genus, Mordvilkovia,
with M. elongata, as the type species. Eckmann [1932] dropped the
genus Gotonius as a synonym of Prosorhynchus and definitely included P.
aculeatus Odhner, 1905, P. crucibulus Rudolphi, 1819, P. facilis Ozaki, 1924,
under Prosorhynchus. The account of P. grandis Lebour, 1908, was not
available to her. Though a rhynchus is known to be present in both P. triglae
Nicoll, 1914, and Gasterostomum viperae van Beneden, 1870, their descriptions
are not sufficient to determine their specific characteristics. She considers
P. crucibulum Manter, 1931, as ' species inquirendae ' and doubtfully includes
Gasterostomum sp. which Linton [1910] described from Mycteroperca vennosa.
Tseng Shen in 1930 described P. vennei for which Eckmann created the genus
Dollfustrema in 1934 [Syn. Dollfusina Eckmann, 1932]. Gasterostomum
ovatum Linton, 1910, was raised to the rank of a genus in 1929 by Dollfus who
created Prosorhynchoides for it. In 1934, Manter described P. ozakii and
Yamaguti Gotonius pletycephali, from American and Japanese fishes
respestively. Verma described in 1936 P. truncatus, an immature form
obtained from a marine fish at Puri.
As a result of a comparative study of the known species of the genera
Prosorhynchus and Gotonius, the author is convinced that the latter is synony-
mous with the former. In the following table are indicated the shape of the
336
Gasterostomatous Parasites of Indian Food-Fishes
body and the relative positions of the gonads of the known species of the
genus Prosorhynchus, from which the identity of the two genera will be clear :—
Species
P. crucibulus Rud., 1819 . .
(Syn. G. armatum Molin, 1859,
Bucephalus crux
Levinsen,
1881.
P. squamatus Odhner, 1905) .
P. aculealus Odhner, 1905 .
G. sp. Linton, 1910 (Fig. 52)
.
P. triglae Nicoll, 1914 . .
P. grandis Lebour, 1908 . .
P. uniporus Ozaki, 1924 . .
P.facilis Ozaki. 1924 . .
P. Ozakii Manter, 1934 . .
P. platycephali Yamaguti, 1934.
P. truncatum Verma, 1936 .
Shape of body
Cylindrical .
Oval . .
Cylindrical .
Elongated oval
Oval . .
Oval . .
Cylindrical .
Elongated .
Cylindrical .
Cylindrical .
Position of testes
Tandem or obliquely
tandem.
One on either side
of body.
Tandem . .
Obliquely tandem .
Nearly tandem .
One on either side
of body.
Tandem . .
One on either side of
body.
Tandem
Tandem
Position
of
ovary
Lateral
or
median.
Lateral.
Lateral.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
In the shape of its body and the tandem position of its testes the new
species, P. manteri, resembles P. crucibulus, Gasterostomum sp. [Linton, 1910,
figure 52], P. facilis, P. platyeephali and P. truncatus, but it can be readily
distinguished from the above five species by its internal organisation. It differs
from P. crucibulus in the more cephalad position of its pharynx and intestine,
the disposition of vitellaria, the anterior extent of the cirrus sac which is over-
lapped partially by the posterior testis, the position of gonads in relation to
the intestine and the absence of filaments in the eggs. From Gasterostomum
sp. Linton, 1910, it can be distinguished by the position of pharynx, intestine,
vitellaria and genital pore and the extent of uterus and cirrus sac. In the
position of pharynx and intestine, disposition of vitellaria and the anterior
extent of uterus and cirrus sac, it can be easily distinguished from P. facilis
and P. platycephali. The new species differs from P. truncatum in most of
its characters such as the topography of the gonads, position of the pharynx,
intestine, genital pore and vitellaria.
PROSORHYNCHUS ARABIANA, n. sp.
Host—Synaptura orientalis Bloch.
Habitat—Intestine.
Locality—Karachi, Arabian Sea.
H. D.
SRIVASTAVA
337
Only four specimens, all mature, of this species were recovered from the
intestine of its host examined at Karachi in June 1936. The elongated, cylin-
drical body in permanent mounts measures 3.3—4.5 in length and 0.4—0.6
in maximum breadth which occurs at the level of ovary. The cuticle has
extremely fine spines which are hardly visible in toto mounts. At the anterior
end of the body is a baloon-shaped rhynchus of 0.22 — 0.3 × 0.16 in size. The
small, globular pharynx of 0.06 — 0.08 in diameter is situated to the left of the
Fig. 10.
Frosorhynhus arabiana n. sp.
338
Gasterostomatous Parasites of Indian Food-Fishes
median line at about three-fifths of body length from the anterior end. It is
followed by a small oesophagus which opens into the bulb-shaped intestine,
0.16—0.24 × 0.12 — 0.15 in size.
The testes are in tandem. The posterior testis of 0.1—0.12 × 0.08—
0—12 in size lies in the median line in front of the hinder fifth of the body length.
The anterior testis measures 0.1 — 0.12 in diameter and lies close in front of the
posterior one. The small, narrow, club-shaped cirrus sac of 0.4—0.26 ×
0.06 — 0.08 in size lies along the right body wall, extending forward upto the
middle of the hinder testis. It encloses a small vesicula seminalis, 0.08—0.12
× 0.04—0.06, an elongated, narrow pars prostatica, 0.14—0.22 × 0.04—
0—06, surrounded by prostate glands, and a minute ductus ejaculatorius. The
small genital tongue is hook-shaped. The genital sinus opens a little in front
of the hinder end on the ventral surface of the body.
The small, ovoid ovary 0.08—0.12 in diameter, lies immediately in front
of the anterior testis. The shell gland complex lies in the space between the
ovary, anterior testis and the left body wall. A small Laurer's canal is
present. The vitellaria consisting of small, pear-shaped follicles and arranged
longitudinally in pairs on either side of body extend from the level of the
posterior margin of ovary to the level of the pharynx. The uterus contains
a fairly large number of eggs and extends from the anterior two-fifths of
the body length to the genital tongue. The eggs measure 0.023 × 0.012 in
size.
The excretory bladder is a small, elongated, saccular tube extending from
the level of pharynx to the excretory pore which is situated near the genital
opening.
In having a cylindrical body and the testes arranged in tandem P. arabiana
resembles the species with which the preceding species has been compar-
ed. However, it differs from all of them in the position of its pharynx, intes-
tine, gonads and of the vitellaria, and in the extent of uterus and the
characteristic shape of the rhynchus, besides differences in measurements.
The author is deeply grateful to the Director and the Pathologist of the
Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar-Kumaun and to Dr. H. R.
Mehra of the Allahabad University for their much kind help and encourage-
ment.
REFERENCES
Baer. K. E. Von (1827). Nova acta phys.—med. acad. not. curios, Bonnae, 13, 2
523-762, pls. 28-33.
Beneden, P. J. van. (1870). Mem. Acad, Roy. de Belg. 38, 1-100.
Bhalerao, G. D. (1937). J. Helm. 15, 2, 97-124.
Braun, M. (1883). Die thierischen Parasiten des Menschen nebst einer anleitung
zur praktischen Beschaftigung mit der Helm. fur Studierende and
Aertte, 8, 1-233, Wutzburg.
Cole, H. A. (1935). Parasitology 27, 276-280.
Diesing, K. M. (1859). Sitzg. K. Ak. Wiss. Wien. math-nat., Cl., 35, 421-541.
H. D.
SRIVASTAVA
339
Dollfus, R. P. (1929). Faune de Colonies Francais, 3, 2, 73-114.
Eckmann, F. (1932). Zeitf. parasit. 5, 94-111.
Issaitschikoff, I. M. (1928). Ber. Wiss. Meeresinst. 3, 1-79.
Lacaze-Duthiers, H. (1854). Ann. des Sci. Natur. 4, ser. I., 294-302.
Lebour, M. V. (1908). Northumberland Sea Fisheries Report for 1907, 11-57.
Linton, E. (1900). Bull. U. S. Fish. Comm.for 1899,19, 267-304.
—(1905).
Bull. U. S. Bur. Fish. 24, 321-428.
—(1910).
Papers Tortugas Lab. of Carn. Inst. Washington, 4, 11-98.
MacCallum. W. G. (1917). Zoopathologicu, 1, 2, 1 .75.
Manter, H. W. (1931). Parasitology 23, 396-411.
—(1934).
Pap. Tortugas Lab. Carn. Inst. Washington Publ.
No. 435, 28, 257-345.
Nicoll, W. (1914). J. Mar. Biol. Ass. 10, 466-505.
—(1915).
Parasitology 7, 338-378.
Odhner, T. (1905). Fauna Arctica, 4, 291-397.
Ozaki, Y. (1924). Zool. Mag. Tokyo, 36, 173-201.
—(1928).
Jap. J. Zool. 2,I, 35-60.
Pigulewsky, S. W. (1931). Zool. Anz. 96, 14-16.
Poche, F. (1907). Zool. Anz. 31, 124-126.
Rndolphi, C. A. (1819). Entozoorum synopsis cui acccdunt mantissa duplex et
indices locupletissimi 10, 1-811.
Shen, T. (1930). Ann. de Parasit. 8, 555-561.
Siebold, C. T. E. van. (1848). Arch. Naturgesch. 2, 351.-398.
Srivastava, H. D. (1934). Proc. Acad.-Sci. 4, 1, 113-120.
—(1935).
Proc. Acad. Sci. 5, 1, 75-85.
—(1937).
Proc. Ind. Sci. Cong., Sect. Zoology, 1937.
Stafford, J. (1905). Zool. Anz. 28, 681.
Verma, S. C. (1936). Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. Ind., 6, 66-89 ; 252-260.
Woodhead, A. E. (1930). Trans. Amer. Micros. Soc. 49, 1-17.
Yamaguti, S. (1934). Jap. J. Zool. 5, No. 3, 249-541.
Ziegler, H. E. (1883). Z. Wiss. Zool, 39, 537-577.
Key to lettering
A. s. . . . . . . . .
C. t. . . . . . . . .
Ex. bl. . . . . . . . .
G. c. . . . . . . . .
G. f. . . . . . . . .
G. s. . . . . . . . .
I. . . . . . . . .
L. c. . . . . . . . .
Mt. . . . . . . . .
O. . . . . . . . .
Anterior sucker.
Cephalic tentacles.
Excretory bladder.
Genital cone or tongue.
Genital funnel.
Genital sinus.
Intestine.
Laurer's canal.
Metratarm.
Ovary.
340
Gasterostomatous Parasites of Indian Food-Fishes.
Os. . . . . . . . . .
P.p. . . . . . . . . .
P.gl. . . . . . . . . .
Ph. . . . . . . . . .
S. gl. . . . . . . . . .
T. . . . . . . . . .
Ut. . . . . . . . . .
V.s. . . . . . . . . .
Vt. . . . . . . . . .
Oesophagus.
Pars prostatica.
Prostate glands.
Pharynx.
Shell gland complex.
Testis.
Uterus.
Vesicula seminalis.
Vitellaria.
AN OUTBREAK OF EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS
IN
A MOUNTED MILITARY POLICE TROOP IN BIHAR
A PRELIMINARY REPORT
BY
LAKSHMI SAHAI, M.Sc, M.R.C.V.S.
(Veterinary) Disease Investigation Officer, Bihar
(Received for publication on 14th April, 1938)
INTRODUCTION
THERE occurs in many parts of India and certain neighbouring countries
a disease of horses known as Kumri which is characterized by incoordination
of movement and loss of control over the hind limbs. The disease has been
under investigation for a very long time but its etiology still remains obs-
cure.
There also occurs on the continent of Europe and in America a group of
diseases of virus origin characterized by symptoms of paraplegia and cerebral
involvement. Of these, the best known is Borna disease which has existed
in Germany for over a hundred years. An analogous disease occurs in France
which has been described by Moussu and Marchand [1924].
The disease in America referred to as equine encephalomyelitis was first
described by Meyer and his associates [1930] in California and they showed
that it was due to a virus, of which there are two immunologically distinct
strains, the original western strain of Meyer which is supposed to be identical
with the strain causing equine encephalomyelitis in Argentine, and an eastern
strain first described by Ten Broeck and Merrill [1933], the latter being the
more virulent. In addition there is a Russian strain responsible for the disease
in horses in Russia.
Several other types of equine encephalomyelitis have also been described
mostly from the continent of Europe, but it is extremely doubtful if there is
any relationship between them and whether they are all of virus origin.
In this country, cases of disease in horses, characterized by symptoms of
paraplegia, have in the past been either diagnosed as Kumri or attributed to
a variety of unproved etiological factors, while no evidence was available
until quite recently that the specific form of equine encephalomyelitis such
as occurs in America and elsewhere also occurred in this country.
( 341 )
L
342
An Outbreak of Equine Encephalomyelitis.
The first outbreak of encephalomyelitis in which a virus was suspected
to be the cause occurred in a cavalry regiment at Multan in the winter of 1933
The disease was investigated by Mosley, Heane and Shirlaw [1934], the last-
named of whom adduced evidence to show that it was very closely related to
the American type of equine encephalomyelitis and that it was probably
caused by a neurotropic filterable virus of organotropic type.
Recently a similar outbreak has been described from Kashmir by Kak
[1937] and the close clinical similarity between this outbreak and the one at
Multan suggests that probably it too was of virus origin.
Within recent years several outbreaks of equine encephalomyelitis have
been reported, mostly from military establishments in the Punjab, and fre-
quent references to it are to be found in the recent reports of the Imperial
Veterinary Research Institute at Mukteswar and of the Army Veterinary
Service in India, but there is nothing to show that the existence of a virus in
these outbreaks was proved.
In this article an account is given of an outbreak of paraplegia, later
diagnosed as encephalomyelitis, that occurred among the Mounted Military
Police horses at Jamshedpur during the winter of 1936-37 and which bore
some resemblance to the outbreaks at Multan and in Kashmir but in which
the existence of a virus could not be definitely proved. An attempt to con-
nect the outbreak with vegetable poisoning also proved abortive, while ex-
amination of the blood and fodder for their calcium and phosphorus contents
did not reveal any abnormality of such an exceptional nature as to justify
any definite conclusions. As a matter of fact, the etiology of the disease has
up to now remained undetermined.
In this connection it is important to note that a similar outbreak has
again occurred among these horses this year (1937-38), the first case occurring
towards the end of October and the last towards the beginning of January.
Of the total number of six horses attacked, four recovered and two are going
to be destroyed. Similar cases of a sporadic nature have also been reported
from among the Mounted Military Police horses at Patna and some privately-
owned horses in North Bihar. These last-named are also Walers except for
two which are country-breds.
The description which follows relates only to the outbreak which occurred
during the winter of 1936-37 except where otherwise specifically mentioned.
HISTORY OF THE OUTBREAK
There are five troops of the Mounted Military Police horses in Bihar, of
which three are stationed at Arrah, one at Patna and one at Jamshedpur.
Each troop comprises twenty-eight horses and the troops exchange places
once every year. The horses are all of the Waler breed. The Mounted
Military Police station at Jamshedpur was first established in May 1933 and
the troop in which this particular outbreak occurred had been there since
October, 1935.
LAKSHMI
SAHAI
343
The first case with any symptoms of paraplegia or loss of control over the
hind limbs among the Mounted Military Police horses at Jamshedpur occurred
in August, 1935. This animal while out on exercise one day went suddenly
lame, the symptoms being so acute that it could be walked back to the lines
with the greatest difficulty. Later, the acute pain passed off and symptoms
of paraplegia were manifested which became progressively worse. Since it
was an isolated case and the symptoms shown bore some resemblance to those
seen in Kumri, a diagnosis of the latter disease was given and the animal
destroyed.
In the meantime the troop was changed and no further cases occurred
until the present outbreak started in August, 1936, exactly one year after the
case in 1935. The first horse to be attacked during this outbreak was No. 119
which one day about the middle of August was seen to be going definitely
unsound in the hind quarters. During September, 1936, another horse No. 31
developed the symptoms as evidenced by the dragging of the off-hind toe at
the trot. This case was variously diagnosed by officers on the spot as string-
halt or Kumri. Later in the month of October cases arose with greater
frequency, as many as five horses being attacked. These were Nos. 2, 52, 8,
70 and 12. During this month the private pony of the Commandant of the
troop which had been in contact with the Mounted Military Police horses,
while away at Ranchi for races, also developed the disease. On the 29th
October, it was noticed to be off colour and refused to lie down. The follow-
ing day the condition became worse and definite signs of paraplegia became
visible. The animal was brought back to Jamshedpur where it became
progressively worse and had to be destroyed three months later. During the
month of November horse No. 29 was attacked and during December No. 13,
after which for three months no further cases occurred, when suddenly in
March, 1937, another horse No. 39 developed the disease. This was the last
case to occur and though the healthy and affected horses continued to remain
in close contact due to lack of facilities for proper segregation, there was no
further spread of the disease.
In this connection it may be stated that two horses, belonging to an
officer at Patna, which had also been to Ranchi and had come in contact
with the Commandant's horse developed, on arrival at Patna, symptoms
very similar to those exhibited by the Mounted Military Police horses at
Jamshedpur, while isolated cases of the disease also occurred in the troops at
Patna and Arrah which had never been in contact with any of the other
affected horses.
Of the eleven Mounted Military Police horses attacked at Jamshedpur
including the Commandant's, two recovered (Nos. 8 and 13), two died after
periods of illness lasting for a month and a fortnight respectively (Nos. 52
and 12), while seven had to be destroyed after they had been kept under
observation and treatment for several months (Nos. 31, 2, 70, 119, 29, 39 and
the Commandant's).
344
An Outbreak of Equine Encephalomyelitis
It will thus be seen that of a total number of twenty-nine horses in the
troop (including the Commandant's) eleven developed signs of paraplegia,
of which two recovered and the rest died or were destroyed ; the incidence
and mortality rate thus working out as 38 and 82 per cent respectively.
The following statement giving the numbers of horses and the dates on
which they were attacked will show the incidence of the disease in this troop :—
No. of horse
119 . . . . .
31 . . . . .
2 . . . . .
52 . . . . .
8 . . . . .
70 . . . . .
12 . . . . .
Commandant's . . . .
29 . . . . .
13 . . . . .
39 . . . . .
Date on which symptoms were
first seen
14th August, 1935.
17th September, 1935.
2nd October, 1936.
14th October, 1936.
22nd October, 1936.
24th October, 1936.
29th October, 1936.
29th October, 1936.
12th November, 1936.
15th December, 1936.
12th March, 1937.
In this connection it may be stated that Jamshedpur formerly used to be
rather an important centre for horse racing in Bihar and a number of horses
used to come to Jamshedpur from Calcutta and other places for this purpose.
Enquiries made on the spot have shown that losses among these horses from
the disease under report or one closely related to it used to be frequent and
severe, in many cases the animals getting attacked and succumbing within a
short time of their arrival at Jamshedpur. These horses used to be stabled
in the vicinity of certain farm and the popular belief was that they were
poisoned by the rass obtained from this farm. The losses were so severe
that Jamshedpur came to be looked upon as a burial place for horses and the
races had to be discontinued, other factors also contributing. Now there are
not more than half-a-dozen well-bred horses left in the whole of Jamshed-
pur.
LAKSHMI
SAHAI
345
The following table compiled from information gathered locally will show
the losses from this disease at Jamshedpur during the last few years :—
Year
1925
.
.
.
.
.
1926
.
.
.
.
.
1927
.
.
.
.
.
1928
.
.
.
.
.
1929
.
.
.
.
.
1930 . . . . .
1931 . . . . .
1932 . . . . .
1933 . . . . .
1934 . . . . .
1935 . . . . .
1936 . . . . .
1937 . . . . .
No. of cases
1
Nil.
3
5 (Out of 6 horses that came from Calcutta 5
developed the disease within a few days of
their arrival and one succumbed after four
days of illness, another after 10—12 days and
another after a fortnight ; the duration of
illness in others was probably similar. Only
one horse went back).
}Races stopped ; no cases.
3
1 (Mounted Military Police).
10
Do.
6
Do.
N.B.—Mounted Military Police troop was first posted in 1933.
SYMPTOMS
The clinical picture presented and the degree of severity of attack in the
outbreak varied widely and ranged from cases which showed but the barest
loss of control over the hind quarters to those which were found down in the
stall, struggling violently and completely paralysed.
In the majority of cases the onset was slow and insidious. This was
very well exemplified by horse No. 70, which, for about a month before the
disease was definitely diagnosed, was seen to execute peculiar swinging move-
ments of the hind quarters. While at rest in the stall and completely undis-
turbed, the animal would swing back slowly and then suddenly becoming
conscious of its unnatural posture resume its normal position again, only to
repeat the movement after a few minutes. At this stage there was no suspi-
cion at all of any paraplegia, but later the symptoms became well marked
leaving little doubt in one's mind as to the actual condition.
In one or two cases only was the onset sudden. This was best seen in
horse No. 12 which apparently in the best of health up to the previous after-
noon was found suddenly down in the stall at night unable to get up and
exhibiting marked restlessness and excitement. The temperature at this
time was 102°. With great difficulty the animal was removed to a loose box
nearby where the next day the symptoms of nervous excitement became great-
ly aggravated and it broke through the stall twice breaking the breast bars