272
"Actinomycosis" and Actinobacillosis in Animals
but the prevalence of economically more important diseases and the lack of
facilities available to the average veterinarian in India which are standing in
the way of such research.
The Annual Report of the Civil Veterinary Department, Madras Presiden-
cy, 1927-28, records the finding of typical " Actinomycosis " in a three months
old lesion " in the jaw " of a bullock and the finding of an acid-alcohol-fast
Streptothrix in sections of lime-sized growths " in the left shoulder blade "
of a buffalo. Datta [1933] has recorded the finding of " Actinomycosis "
in a buffalo-heifer in growths " on the parotid glands of both sides ". The
specimen referred to by him has been studied further by the author and its
description will appear later (p. 278).
The Streptothrix has been seen in association with lesions of other diseases
of Indian animals and has even been highly suspected as the primary etiolo-
gical factor [Datta, 1931 ; Ayyar, 1925]. But, as Datta [1933] has clearly
stated, " reports on genuine cases of actinomycosis of animals have been very
few indeed ". Apparently he has been able to discover only two such previous
reports viz., that of Pease [1891] who described an outbreak amongst buffa-
loes in the Punjab, and the one mentioned above from the Civil Veterinary
Department, Madras (1927-28).
During routine examination of specimens sent to the Pathology Section
of this Institute, the author had the good fortune to encounter a few specimens
of " Actinomycosis " and became interested in their etiological classification.
This necessitated a re-examination of the entire, relevant, catalogued
material spread over the last fifteen years. It was realised that in the absence
of complete clinical histories of the cases, and also of any cultural material,
such a classification was not without risks of contradiction. Nevertheless,
it was not considered altogether impossible in all cases.
Workers in other countries have explored several etiological factors which
may produce structures that are commonly known as " actino-bodies " or
" ray-colonies ". The essential feature of these is a peripheral zone of radiat-
ing clubs. It must be borne in mind, however, that this essential part of the
ray-colony is not necessarily a portion of the etiological organism. Experience
[Bostroem, 1890 ; Brumpt, 1906 ; M'Fadyean, 1889 ; Delepine, 1890]
has shown that the formation of clubs as a radiating peripheral zone may be
brought about as a result of defensive, or according to some [Crookshank,
1888 ; Gibson, 1934 ; Lignieres and Spitz, 1902] offensive mechanism of the
organism against the tissue, or as a result of tissue-reaction against the invad-
ing parasite. " Christiansen, and others before him, have shown that actino-
mycotic formations can be produced by moulds. Other writers have shown
them present with tubercle bacilli. Magrou [1919] produced " such formations
by inoculating Staphylococci into testicles of guinea-pigs
"Thus, the mere presence of club-bearing granules is no proof that there is a
question of Actinomycosis " [Magnusson, 1928]. Actino-bodies may be met
with in several unrelated disease conditions : they occur, for instance, in true
actinomycosis, in actinobacillosis, in chronic staphylococcal infection of the