FLUOROSIS OF CATTLE IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY
By G. R. VISWANATHAN, G.M.V.C., Veterinary Investigation Officer, Madras
(Received for publication on 26 March 1943)
(With Plate XXII)
IN 1934-35 the writer recorded the existence of
a disease which on clinical ground he described
as chronic rheumatic arthritis in cattle in cer-
tain villages of Kurnool district. Since then
the condition has been reported from other
districts and the present article includes an
account of the disease as observed in cattle in
the Madras Presidency.
The disease is locally known in Telugu
districts as Voyupotlu or Voyunoppulu (Voyu=
Rheumatism, Potlu or Noppulu = pains) and in
Tamil as Keelvoyu (Keel=joint and Voyu=
Rheumatism).
OCCURENCE AND SYMPTOMS
This disease occurs in several villages of
various taluks of Kurnool, Anantapur, Cuddapah
and Nellore districts, the endemic regions being
adjacent to Hyderabad State where this disease
is also prevalent. The endemic areas of the
Madras Presidency lie on the borders of the
Nallamalais range, situated on one side of the
Kurnool district and divided by the Thunga-
badra and Kistna rivers.
The disease generally affects breeding bulls.
working bullocks and cows.
Calves and
buffaloes suffer only occasionally (Plate XXII,
fig. 1). Few cases have been observed in sheep,
but none in other domestic animals.
Amongst cattle the condition has been observ-
ed more frequently in Ongole breed of cows in
milk and bullocks at work kept under stall-
feeding condition. Number of cases have been
observed in cows during lactation period and
after their first calving. Only two cases have
been observed in sheep, both of which were
handfed.
Animals of the Ongole breed appear to be more
susceptible than others; Mysore, Alambadi, and
in certain villages 5 to 10 per cent of cattle of
this breed might be found affected.
The conditions is rare in young animals and a
few cases only have been recorded in suckling
calves.
Cases of the disease may be observed through-
out the year, but the symptoms appear to be
more marked during the ploughing season and
at the commencement of rains.
The history given by the owners is that the
animals purchased when young, get the affection
one or two years after their arrival in the
endemic area.
The first indication of this condition is
lameness in one or more limbs, more often the
forelimbs, and more particularly in the shoul-
ders, which appear to be thrown forward. The
lameness is usually a constant feature, generally
obscure and progressive in nature and metastatic
in character.
In about six months to a year from the onset
of lameness, the animal shows stiffness of gait,
evinces pain while walking, and finds difficulty
in arching its back.
Later on the animal shows extreme emacia-
tion due to atrophy of muscles all over the body,
experiences difficulty in lying down and getting
up and finally remains recumbent.
The hoofs are found twisted, distorted and
over grown, the digits having a tendency to
separate, and the points of the toes frequently
curving inwards.
Skeletal abnormalities are manifested by
swollen joints and exostoses over the long bones
and the jaw. These appear as hard, bony en-
largements on the medial and lateral aspects of
the joints and the bones giving them a thickened
or deformed appearance. In very severe cases,
the pasterns becomes affected with even anky-
losis of the joints so that the limbs present a
club-shaped
appearance,
causing
marked
lameness and a peculiarly stiff gait.
Calluses are noticed on the prominent bones
and the ribs.
These occur in the form of
nodular elevations on the middle of the ribs in
a lengthwise manner on one or both sides and
range in size from a walnut to a hen's egg.
The animal feels pain over the exostosis.
In certain endemic areas the affected animals
show discoloration of teeth, with brownish pig-
mentation and mottling, and even chipping off
at places.
In the early stage of the disease animals feed
normally, but later the appetite becomes im-
paired, coat becomes harsh and rugged, emacia-
tion advances and death ensues.
In young stock, growth remains poor in spite
of good feeding.
Other symptoms include lowered fertility, de-
layed oestrum, sterility reduction in milk yield
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