110
A case of Tuberculosis in a Sheep
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
1. The disease of goats and sheep known as
'wah' occurs as a specific epizootic in Sind and
is transmissible experimentally.
2. The disease bears a strong resemblance to
the condition known as 'contagious agalactia'
and this is the first record of its occurrence in
India.
3. The symptoms, course and pathology of the
disease are described.
4. The pathogenic agent appears to be a
filterable virus, since the disease is infectious and
no specific pathogenic organism could be isolated
from the lesions.
5. The causative agent is destroyed by heat at
60°C. for half-an-hour.
6. The incubation period in experimental goats
is 5 to 11 days.
7. Inoculation of mammary exudate intra-
muscularly or by the teat-canal set up a disease
similar to that seen in natural outbreaks.
8. A healthy goat subjected to close contact
with a natural case developed the chronic form of
the disease confined to the udder.
9. Lactating animals appear to be more
susceptible.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is indebted to the Imperial Council
of Agricultural Research, for financial aid, to
Mr J. F. Shirlaw, M.R.C.V.S., for the helpful
suggestions, histopathological and cultural exa-
mination of morbid material, to Mr Bachan
Singh, M.R.C.V.S., J.P., Director of Veterinary
Services, Sind, for various facilities and Messrs
J. R. Banna and S. A. -Gulrajani, for help in
conducting the experiments.
Acknowledgement is due to Dr F. C. Minett for
assistance in the preparation of this paper.
REFERENCES
Annual Report (1939-40). Imperial Veterinary Research
Institute
Bridré, J., Donation, A. and Hilbert, D. (1928). Noted
from System of Bacteriology in relation to Medicine,
Medical Research Council, 7, 335-9
Celli and De Blasi (1896) cited by Galloway (1930)
ibid.
Dubois, cited by Hutyra and Marek (1926). Spec. Path.
& Therap. of Diseases of Dom. Animals Bailliére,
Tindall & Cox, London 1, 253
Galloway, I. A. (1930) System of Bacteriology in relation
to Medicine. Medical Research Council 7, 335-9
Metaxa (1816). cited by Galloway (1930) ibid
Sergent, E. and Roig, G. (1917) ibid.
Wooldridge, G. H. (1923). Encyclopedia of Vety. Medi
cine, Surgery and Obsterrics 1, Henry Frowde and
Hodder and Stoughton, London, 164-65
A CASE OF TUBERCULOSIS IN A SHEEP
By P. N. NANDA, M.R.C.V.S., Superintendent
and KARNAIL SINGH, L.V.P., Government
Cattle Farm, Hissar
(Received for publication on 28 August 1943)
THE incidence of tuberculosis in sheep is
extremely low. Although rare cases have been
recorded in a number of other countries, the
present one appears to be the first case recorded
in India.
SUBJECT
A female lamb No. 503 (Lohi breed) 15
months old.
HISTORY
None. The carcase was received for post-
mortem examination in the Farm Veterinary
Hospital.
POST-MORTEM FINDINGS
Nothing unusual was noticed from the
external appearance of the carcase. On opening
it pathological changes were noticed in the
thoracic cavity. Both the lungs were adherent
to the thoracic wall and the pleuræ at these
places were thickened. The surface of the
lungs showed greyish white patches varying in
size from a pinhead to a walnut and giving them
a mottled appearance. Still bigger patches of
irregular shape were seen as a result of
coalescence of the smaller ones. The patches
were level with the lung surface and did not
show any elevation. The lung tissue on removal
was found to be firm, enlarged and hepatized.
On section through the patches, caseation with
calcification was noticed. The substance of
both the lungs was extensively involved and
very little tissue was left unaffected. There
was no evidence of any cavity formation. The
associated lymph glands were enlarged and
indurated. On cutting through" these glands,
caseation and calcification was found.
Nothing abnormal was found in the other
organs.
LABORATORY FINDINGS
Smears from the lungs and affected lymph
glands were prepared and stained by the
Ziehl-Neilsen method. On examination under
the microscope, acid fast organisms indistin-
guishable from tubercle bacilli were detected.
Material was sent to the Research Officer,
Tuberculosis and Johne's Disease, Imperial