194
Rhinosporidiosis in Bovines
pea, on the margin of the hole in the septum of the left nostril. Pellets of
faeces from that animal were distributed in sterile petri-dishes and kept at
room temperature, and also at 37°C, for varying periods to study the fungi
developing in them. The study was continued, for a period of over four months
and the number of different kinds of fungi obtained during the period was so
great as to render it overwhelmingly difficult to cope with the work of identify-
ing them. This method was given up in preference to the direct method of
planting, on sterile dung, small pieces of growth or the asci obtained by teasing
pieces of growth. This method proved to be encouraging since it was found
possible to obtain the same kind of fungus in a series of experimental cultures
while the best growth was obtained invariably at the room temperature. These
cultural experiments were extended to material obtained from human beings
and again a fungus resembling the one in cultures of bovine material, was
obtained every time. A number of asci, obtained from teased pieces of growths,
were treated with five per cent formalin for three minutes, washed in several
changes of sterile normal saline and sown on sterile cow dung. These germi-
nated quite satisfactorily though slowly. Once the fungus appeared on the
dung, there was little difficulty in obtaining sub-cultures on Sabaraud's medium
with dung juice in it. The best medium for sub-culture was found to be horse¬
dung-agar with gland juice smeared over it or added to it. The growth on the
latter appeared to be more vigorous than on any other media.
On sterile dung it took nearly two weeks to show a white globular fluffy
growth. It was interesting to watch the growth in a single ascus planted on
dung. In about a week after planting, the wall of the ascus turned dark in
colour and a few small, white, ascicular projections appeared round about the
ascus at its point of contact with the dung. In about a fortnight the whole
ascus looked like a fluffy ball of white wool about the size of a mustard seed.
At the end of four weeks it was about the size of a millet seed but flattened
showing a few beads of moisture on the surface. In about six weeks a number
of small grape-like rounded white bodies appeared on the surface and micros-
copic examination showed that these were composed of a thick felted mass of
mycelia and no fructification had occurred. The fungus has been sent to experts
for identification and the report is awaited. The fungus obtained from the
culture has been implanted into the punctured hole of the nasal septum in a
bull-calf and the result is awaited. The description of the fungus and the
result of animal inoculation will, it is hoped, form the subject of another paper.
11. PROBABLE MODES OF INFECTION
Ashworth [1923] refers to direct transmission of the discharged spores
from the lesions of Rhinosporidium as an obvious method of spread from man
to man, but such direct transmission of the disease has failed in the hands of
workers who used laboratory animals for the purpose. There is evidence to
show that personal contact even for a number of years does not result in trans-
mission. A good example of failure of direct transmission, by such personal
contact, is the one reported by Kurup [1931] of a man, with lesions in his