NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
170
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Berg, H. (1925). Die Eignung von " Bayer 205 " sur Bekampfung der Africanichen
Haustier-trypanosomen. Deut. Tier. Woch. 33, 34, 561.
Cross, H. E. and Patel (1921). A note on the Transmission of Surra by Ticks. Punjab
Dept. Agri. Vet. Bull. No. 6.
Edwards, J. T. (1928). The Chemotherapy of Surra of Horses and Cattle in India.
Mem. Dept. Agri. India, Vet. Ser., 4, 1.
Evans (1880). Cited by Lingard. Report on Surra. 2, Part 2, 80.
Fraser, H. (1910). Surra in Federated Malay States. J. Trop. Vety. Sc. 4, 345.
Hutyra and Marek (1912). Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the Diseases
of Domestic Animals, 1, 814.
Janaki Rama Ayyar, V. (1919). My experience of outbreaks of Trypanosomiasis
in cattle in 1915. Madras Vet. J. 1, 2, 21-23.
Kleine (1924). Cited by Edwards in his Surra Memoir, 27.
Kumaraswamy Pantulu, L. (1920). Trypanosomiasis in cattle. Madras Vet. J. 1,
6, 4.
Lingard, A. (1895). Report on an outbreak of Surra and Filariasis at Karnal Depot, 3.
—(1899).
Report on Surra, 2, Part 1, 81 and 84.
Mahajan, M. R. (1934). A Note on Bovine Trypanosomiasis in Hyderabad State.
Ind. J. Vet. Sci. and Anim. Husb. 4, 3, 242.
Mukerji, J. N. (1925). Bovine Surra and its treatment. Indian Vet. J. 2, 28.
Pillai, M. V. (1926). Indian Vet. J. 3, 203.
Ram, R. K. (1927). Surra and its treatment. Indian Vet. J. 4, 311.
Sampath Ayyangar, H. C. (1919). Outbreaks of Trypanosomiasis in Cattle. Madras
Vet. J. 1, 1, 2.
Sheather (1926). Wooldridge's Encyclopædia of Veterinary Medicine, 1, 202.
Sowerby (1911). J. Trop. Vet. Sc. 5, 585.
Stirling, R. F. (1921). Vet. Rec. 1, 71.
Venkatachala Ayyar, V. V. (1920). Trypanosomiasis in Bovines. Madras Vet. J.
1, 4, 7.
Venkataratnam Chetty, C. R. (1922). Trypanosomiasis in cattle. Madras Vet. J.
1, 17, 2.
Wenyon (1926). Protozoology 1, 566.
A HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED PIROPLASM OF GOATS
(PIROPLASMA TAYLORI).
BY
S. M. SARWAR, M.R.C.V.S.,
Veterinary Investigation Officer, Punjab.
(Received for publication on 4th December 1934.)
(With Plates V to VII.)
Babes, in 1892, demonstrated a parasite, similar to the one causing " Red-
water " in cattle, in the blood of sheep suffering from a disease known as ' Car-
ceag ' in Roumania. It was named B. ovis by Starcovici in 1893.
Since that time several parasites have been seen in goats and sheep by various
workers, and it has been established that there are three species of Babesia and one
Theileria, as follows, B. motasi, B. ovis and B. sergenti and T. hirci.
B. motasi was first seen by Motas [ 1903 ] in the blood of sheep.
Lestoquard [ 1925 ] observed this parasite in the blood of goats in Algeria and
showed that the parasites were readily inoculable from one goat to another.
The disease caused by this parasite resembles Red-water fever of cattle, and is
said to occur in acute or chronic forms. Morphologically also the parasites re-
semble B. bigeminum of cattle, in that they occur either singly or in pairs, and the
pairs always meet at an acute angle at their narrower ends. Their length is 2.5—
4 microns and breadth 1.2 microns. The size of the average normal R. B. C. of a
goat is 3.9—4.25 microns, but the infected R. B. C. is always enlarged.
B. ovis.—Laveron and Nicholle [1899 ] first described this parasite in sheep.
Dschunkowsky and Luhs [ 1909 ] saw this parasite in the blood of goats and
named it P. hirci though it resembles B. ovis in all essential respects.
Du Toit [ 1918 ] believes that this parasite is identical with B. mutans. B. ovis
is smaller than B. motasi and measures 1-2.5 microns in length. Sometimes it
occurs in pairs and in such cases the angle at which the two meet in the corpuscle
is always obtuse and shows a tendency to be situated at the margin of the red
cells.
B. sergenti.—This was first seen by Ratz [ 1913 ] in the blood of sheep and
was named Piroplasma ovis. It was seen and studied in Algeria by Sergent,
Parot and Hilbert (1922] and later by Lestoquard [ 1924 ] who named it Gonderia
ovis.
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172 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, II
Of 200 sheep examined, the last named worker found 130 infected. The
parasites are said to resemble B. mutans morphologically.
Small, round and bacillary forms are usually found but cross forms are also
stated to occur.
T. hirci.—This parasite is responsible for a condition of Theileriasis character-
ised by the presence of Koch's blue bodies in the lymphatic glands and internal
organs, and was named T. hirci by Dschunkowsky and Urodschevich [ 1924 ].
In spite of the fact that much attention has been paid to the piroplasms of
goats and sheep, in almost all European countries and in many different parts
of the world, practically no literature regarding the incidence of these parasites in
Indian goats and sheep is available, although it is unlikely that the goats and sheep
of this country are unaffected. The earliest available record of piroplasms of goats
in India is of very recent date and is found in the Annual Report of the Imperial
Institute of Veterinary Research, Muktesar, for the year ending March 1932
which contains a few lines regarding the finding of B. sergenti in the blood of a goat
by Krishna Iyer, who also carried out a few transmission experiments with the
parasite.
Beyond this, there is no further information regarding the morphological
details or the pathological features of the organism.
The next record is of still more recent date.
Achar and Srikantiah [ 1934 ] record the finding of a piroplasm in sheep in
Mysore State and this they described as B. motasi.
These workers also carried out a few transmission experiments and found
that the parasite was not transmissible to goats. They concluded that these
piroplasms are normally non-pathogenic in some sheep and become resuscitated
during the course of rinderpest attacks. The details of the organism regarding
its morphology, etc., have not been recorded.
It will later be observed that the parasite under description does not agree
in any way with the descriptions of any of the hitherto recorded species and its
morphological features are suggestive of its being a new one. The parasite was
obtained at the time of holding a post-mortem examination on a goat at village
Malwale, district Sheikhupura, Punjab, that was reported to have died after
two or three days of illness. The animal had been off its feed and had exhibited
signs of fever. The subject was a female aged about 3 years and was of local breed.
On post-mortem examination the following pathological changes were observed.
The visible mucous membranes, particularly the conjunctiva, were highly congest-
ed. The blood was thin and watery.
The liver was distinctly enlarged and congested, with a very friable paren-
chyma. The spleen was enlarged to about twice the normal size, the pulp being
darker in colour and softer than normal. The surface showed petechiae and
A HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED PIROPLASM OF GOATS.
173
the surface blood vessels were congested. The kidneys did not show any marked
abnormality except distinct congestion, particularly in the cortical area.
The urinary bladder contained about 30 c.c. of clear straw-colour urine. A few
petechial marks were observed on the epicardium and endocardium.
The trachea also showed a few millet seed size petechiae in the cervical portion.
The lungs were normally collapsed and no lesions could be found in them. Blood
and organ smears were taken for examination. No ecto-parasites were found on
the carcase.
MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES.
On microscopical examination, the smears were found to contain a large
number of piroplasms in the red blood cells, about 11.5 per cent of cells being in-
fected. On examination it was seen that this parasite did not coincide in several
respects with the already recorded species.
The chief distinctive features of the parasite are its morphological and div-
sional characters. The parasite is found to divide into two elements, or into multi-
ples of two, at one and the same time, the number into which it is to divide appears
to be predetermined. Although single parasites are frequently seen, it is also not
uncommon to find two, four, eight and sixteen elements in one red cell.
The infected red blood corpuscles are found to be distinctly enlarged in size.
The average normal red blood cell in the specimens examined measures 4.2 microns
in diameter, while corpuscles infected with single parasites measure 5.6 microns.
Those infected with 2 parasites measures 6 . 0 microns, while those infected with
four, eight and sixteen measure 6.8, 7.6 and 8.2 microns, respectively. The
parasites also vary considerably in their measurements. When single parasites
are found in a cell, they measure 2 × 1.5 microns, whilst the individuals consti-
tuting 16 parasites in one cell are about 1 micron or less in diameter. Forms showing
the initial stages in the process of division into two, four, eight or sixteen elements,
are seen in abundance. The binucleated forms (those at the stage of binary fission)
measure 2.75 × 2.0 microns, while those about to divide into four elements are
3.8 × 3.0 microns and those at the stage of division into eight, measure 4.2 × 3.6
microns in the intra-cellular position. Another feature is the occurrence of a fairly
large number of parasites in extra-cellular situations, the extra-cellular parasites
being found larger in size than the intra-cellular forms. The enlarging parasite,
in commencing division, brings about a premature rupture of the corpuscle before
the division is complete, showing the picture of free extra-cellular dividing forms.
These extra-cellular division forms are usually 50 per cent. greater in size than
the corresponding forms inside the red cells.
It is clear that the intra-cellular position has an inhibitory effect on the full
development of the parasite. The parasite are either ovoid, pear-shaped or round
on staining with Leishman's stain.
174 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, II
The cytoplasm takes up a fairly deep blue colour and the nucleus (chromatin)
is found to be embodied usually at one of the poles (Plate VI, fig. 1). In no case
is the chomatin body found in a central position.
There is a characteristic absence of the string of fine granules extending
from the chromatin body, found usually in B. bigeminum and B. canis.
In binary fission the nucleus becomes elongated, followed by subsequent divi-
sion into two parts. The two daughter nuclei occupy the opposite poles, followed
by the appearance of a constriction in the centre of the cytoplasm (Plate VI, fig. II).
When division into four or more elements takes place, the resulting nuclei
occupy position around the periphery of the cytoplasm, which itself divides into
portions equal in number to the number of nuclei.
Preceding division the parent piroplasm becomes considerably enlarged.
(Plate VI, fig. 1 & 2). After the rupture of the host cells, the individuals escape
into the plasma to invade fresh red blood corpuscles and repeat the process in the
usual manner. Typical " Maltese cross " forms are found in abundance in the
smears when quadruple division is in progress.
Smears from the lymphatic glands and internal organs, also, show similar
morphological features to those described above.
DISCUSSION.
It has previously been briefly mentioned that the piroplasm under descrip-
tion, differs from the recorded species occurring in goats and sheep.
The absence of Koch's blue bodies in the smears excludes the possibility of
this parasite belonging to the genus Theileria.
The presence of more than two parasites in a single cell and the multiple divi-
sion into as many as sixteen parasites observed in this case are not the recorded
features of B. motasi, which is a much larger paratsite than the one at present
described. The absence of haemoglobinuria in this acute condition is also a point
in favour of the casual organism not being identical with B. motasi.
B. ovis produces a very chronic debilitating disease in goats and sheep and it
infects not more than 0.6 per cent of the R. B. C. It is a much smaller parasite
and is said to resemble B. ovis of cattle. The morphological features of the para-
site in hand are quite different from those of B. ovis in that the occurrence of more
than two parasites in a single cell has never been recorded in the case of the latter.
A perusal of the literature shows that there has been considerable confusion
in the description of B. sergenti, which has been described as Gonderia ovis and
many times mistaken for parasites of B. bovis type. Moreover B. sergenti is said
to produce no recognisable symptoms in sheep and goats while the parasite in
Land was found to have been the probable cause of death in the goat from
A HITHERTO UNDESCRIBED PIROPLASM OF GOATS.
175
which it was recovered. It is recorded that Lestoquard [ 1924 ] in Algeria found
130 sheep infected with B. sergenti out of 202 healthy sheep that he examined.
The goats and sheep infected with B. sergenti did not exhibit any signs of ill health.
Infection with B. sergenti is never intense, only 0.1—0.3 per cent of the R. B. C.
are infected, while in the present case 11.5 per cent. of the corpuscles are found to
be infected. B. sergenti corresponds very closely with T. mutans of cattle, showing
small round and bacillary forms, whereas no bacillary forms were seen in the present
case. The difference between the parasite under report, and those already known
may be more clearly seen from the following table :—
1
B. motasi .
B .sergenti .
B. ovis .
T hirci
P. taylori .
Percent-
age of
R. B. C.
infec-
ted.
2
Heavy
infection.
0.1
to
0.3
Per cent.
0.6
Per cent.
2
Per cent.
11
Per cent.
Size of the
parasite
(Single)
3
2.5
to
4.0
microns
×
1.2
to
3.0
microns.
1.0
to
1.5
microns
in
length.
1—2.5
microns
in
length
. . .
2×1.0
microns
Shape of the parasite
4
Mostly pear-shaped.
Ovoid, round and
irregular forms
also
observed.
Rounded and bacil-
lary forms.
Mostly round forms.
Pear-shapd forms.
rare.
Round, pear-shaped,
ovoid and bacil-
lary forms.
Mostly ovoid and
round. Pear-shap-
ed forms rare.
Mode of multiplica-
tion.
5
Binary
fission.
Single or two para-
sites in a cell.
Binary
fission
Single, two and
rarely four para-
sites in a cell.
Binary fission.
Single or two para-
sites in a cell.
Schizogony .
Binary fission and
multiple division
into 2, 4, 8 & 16.
Patho-
genicity.
6
Pathogenic
Non-Patho-
genic.
Pathogenic
Pathogenic
Probably
Pathogenic.
Haemo-
globin-
uria.
7
Present
Absent
Absent
Present
Absent
Koch's
blue
bodies.
8
Absent
Absent
Absent
Present
Absent
On account of the divisions shown above, it is claimed that this piroplasm
constitutes a new species and the author suggests that the name of Piroplasma
taylori sp. nov. may be applied to it.
The generic name of Piproplasma has been retained ,on account of the inad-
missibility of the three recognised genera, Babesia, Nuttallia and Theileria.
The author's thanks are due to Messrs. H. M. Hanif, Artist, Punjab Veteri-
nary College, Lahore and J. S. Rao, Artist, Imperial Institute of Veterinary Re-
search, Muktesar, for the execution of drawings and micro-photographs.
H
176 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, II
The author is indebted to the Director of the Imperial Institute of Veterinary
Research, Muktesar, for his help in affording access to the Institute Library.
REFERENCES.
Achar, S. D. and Srikantiah, G. N. (1934). Ind. Vet. J. 10.4.
Dechunkowsky, E., and Urodschevich, V. (1924). Parasitol, 16, 107.
Du Toit, P. J. (1918). Arch. Protistenk, 39, 84.
Imp. Inst. Vet. Res. Muktesar. Annual Report, 1932.
Laveran, A., and Nicolle, M. (1899). C. R. Soc. Biol. 51, 800.
Lestoquard, F. (1924). Bull. Soc. Path. Exot. 17, 122.
—(1924).
Ibid, 17, 784.
—(1924).
Ibid, 18, 140.
Lestoquard, F., and Ekren, I. (1931). Bull. Soc. Path. Exot. 24, 822.
Motas C. (1903). C. R. Soc, Biol. 54, 1522.
Ratz, S. Von, (1913). Centralbt. Bakt. Orig. 68,194.
Sergent, Ed., Parrot, L. and Hillbert, D. N. (1922). Bull. Soc. Path. Exot. 15, 789.
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb. Vol. V, Pt.
2.
Plate V.
FIG. 1. Microphotograph (× 275) showing division of the parasite into two, four and
eight in single cells ; Also showing single parasite in intra and extra cellular positions.
FIG. 2. Microphotograph (× 275) showing division of the parasite into two, four, eight and
sixteen.
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim. Husb. Vol. V, Pt,
2.
Plate VI.
FIG. 1. Coloured drawing indicating the variations in shape and size of the parasite.
FIG. 2. Coloured drawing showing the mode of binary fission.
Ind. Jour, Vety. Set. & Anim. Husb. Vol. V, Pt. 3.
Plate VI(a)
Showing the extra and intra cellular multiple division of the parasite into four.
Ind. Jour, Vety. Sci. & Anim. Hush. Vol. V, Pt. 2.
Plate VII.
FIG. 1. Coloured drawing showing the extra and intra cellular multiple division of the
parasite into eight.
FIG. 2. Coloured drawing showing the extra and intra cellular multiple diwsion of the
parasite into sixteen.
GLOBIDIOSIS IN INDIAN CATTLE, WITH A DESCRIPTION
OF A NEW SPECIES.
BY
S. R. HASSAN, M.R.C.V.S., L.M.,
Deputy Director, Imperial Veterinary Serum Institute, Izatnagar.
(Received for publication on 18th February 1935.)
(With Plates VIII to X.)
The definition, and terminology of the group of protozoon organisms, the
first of which was discoverd by Flesch [ 1883 ] in the small intestine of the horse
and afterwards named Globidium leuckarti, is still unsettled, and as far as India
is concerned no previous reference to the parasites is available, and little is known
about the morbid conditions produced by them in the alimentary canal of cattle.
Data concerning the life-history and other points of protozoological interest
in connection with the parasite about to be described are incomplete, so no attempt
can, at present, be made to offer a detailed account. The particular purpose of
this article, therefore, is to record observations concerning clinical and laboratory
findings of the organism and to invite the attention of other workers, especially
those connected with meat inspection and post-mortem examination of cattle, to
its presence and importance in this country.
The writer's observations are based on the study of five cases, four of which he
encountered as early as 1919-20, while he was working as Assistant on post-mortem
duty under Major S. Black, R.A.V.C., at the Army Veterinary Hospital, Peshawar,
but owing to war conditions then prevailing no facilities for detailed study were
available, and the material was ultimately destroyed. The only data available
concerning those cases are clinical notes and post-mortem reports, which have
not been previously published for want of relevant literature. As the organism
resembles a Sarcosporidium in certain respects, opportunities were taken to study
in detail the latter organisms and observations on this point were made before the
All-India Veterinary Conference held at Lahore in 1923, when histological speci-
mens were also exhibited.
All the above four cases occurred in transport bullocks, which were suffering
from dysentery. The examination of faeces during life by the direct method reveal-
ed the presence of Coccidium-oocysts in two of the cases and the faeces of the remain-
ing two cases contained a large number of spore-like bodies, peculiarly elongated
and tapering at both extremities, which were hardly differentiable from sporulat-
ing intestinal bacteria on a cursery examination of saline faecal preparations under
( 177 )
178
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, II
l/6th objective and No. 4 ocular. A special feature of these spindle-shaped, non-
motile bodies, then noted, was that they were found in groups or clumps. There
was a considerable amount of blood in the faeces which was negative for Amoebae
or their cysts, but some rounded bodies, which represent a stage in the develop-
ment of the parasite under report, were found and were at that time considered as
vegetable spores, which they resemble. The faecal films were not stained, so the
morphology and histology of the elements of the parasite present in the faeces
could not be thoroughly studied.
With regard to the particulars and place of origin of the affected oxen, it is
interesting to note that all of these animals, which were about eight years old,
belonged to various bullock corps raised in the 8th Lucknow Division, Supply
and Transport Corps and, as far as the writer could ascertain, they were purchased
from Etawah District of the United Provinces. These oxen were either of local
or mixed United Provinces and Hariana breeds. All the four cases had suffered
several times from dysentery and were consequently in poor condition. They
were considered to be affected with rinderpest and were destroyed.
POST-MORTEM FINDINGS.
Case No. 1.—Nothing unusual was found on examination of the skin, nor
did the examination of the buccal, pharyngeal and laryngeal mucous membranes
reveal anything except rinderpest vesicles and ulcers. In the abomasum in the
area of the pyloric glands, whitish spherical spots were seen which, on minute exa-
mination with a hand lens, appeared to be parasitic cysts about the size and shape
of small tapioca grains. The largest of these looked somewhat smaller than an
individual sarcosporidium and was about 1 mm. long.
One or two of these cysts were found at the beginning of the duodenum and a
few at the end of the ileum. Nothing special was noticed in the rest of the bowel
except rinderpest lesions. The cysts were not found in the heart, skeletal
musculature, oesophagus or diaphragm, which were especially examined for Sar-
cosporidia.
Case No. 2.—The findings of this case were identical with the first one,
except that a few petechiae and patches of congestion were seen in the area where
these cysts were present near the ileo-caecal valve. Only a few were noticed at the
pylorus and the caecum was not involved.
Case No. 3.—Showed a heavy infection throughout the ileum but only a few
at the pylorus.
Case No. 4.—In this case there was only one visible focus of infection, but
this was peculiar in that the cysts were arranged in a semi-circular fashion
around the ileo-caecal valve about half an inch towards the ileum. There was a
zone of intense congestion, which was attributed to rinderpest. This animal
Ind. Jour. Vety. Sci. & Anim.
Husb.
Vol. V, Pt.
2.
Plate VIII.
Globidium fusiformis
n. sp.
1. Multinucleated cytoplasmic
bodies, which later become spores.
2. Individual spores of the globidium.
3. Faeces particles.
4. Red blood corpuscles.