NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
DIAGNOSIS OF JOHNE S DISEASE BY THE USE OF JOHNIN
397
36. Red poll. First calver. From alleged T-free herd.R1. K 126. Intestine
alone examined, no lesions of J present, but J seen in films from intestine and
cultivated therefrom.
37. Shorthorn. First calver. From alleged T-free herd. Good condition
throughout. R1 (anal), 18 (anal), 99, 201. NR 152 (tuberculin). K208. No
T lesions. No lesions of J and no J in films. 28 sections from 10 sites in the small and
5 sites in the large intestine were searched but no J were seen and there were no
characteristic histological changes. J, however, were isolated in culture.
38. Shorthorn cow. Remained in good condition. R1, 92 (also anal), 190 and
267. The reaction on day 1 was slight. Indefinite R (tuberculin) 1, NR (tuberculin)
8 (subcutaneous), 190 and 267. K 310. No T lesions and 2 gp injected from bron-
chial, mediastinal, pharyngeal and submaxillary glands and 2 gp injected from the
intestinal glands did not become infected. Slight congestion of the ileo-cæcal valve
and early J lesions present in ileum. No J seen in antiformin preparations of intestine
or in sections but J isolated in culture.
39. Ayrshire cow. 4½ years. From alleged T free herd. R1 and 92. R92
(tuberculin). K 15. No T lesions seen in 2 gp inoculated from bronchial, pharyngeal
and submaxillary glands and 2 from intestinal glands did not become infected.
No lesions of J seen, though the mesenteric glands were rather watery. No J seen in
films or sections from small or large intestine or mesenteric glands, but J colonies
appeared in small numbers on media sown with material from small and large
intestine.
REACTORS IN WHICH THE EXISTENCE OF JOHNE'S DISEASE POST MORTEM WAS NOT
PROVED
Seven cases fall under this heading, though with 4 of them the diagnosis post-
mortem was doubtful. With two exceptions, all were adults. All seven animals had
definitely reacted to johnin and were purchased from herds in which Johne's disease
was known to exist. Most of the cases were dealt with quite early in the work and
a sufficiently extensive examination was not made.
40. Had not reacted to tuberculin and no evidence of T postmortem.
In a smear of the small intestine after much search two or three clumps of acid-
fast bacilli rather like J were seen. Antiformin deposits prepared from the ileo¬
cæcal valve, small and large intestine, were injected into gp but did not set up T. No
definite changes and No J were found in sections from the small or large intestine.
Cultures were not attempted.
41. Had shown intermittent diarrhœa. From an alleged T-free herd and no
evidence of T postmortem. In a smear from the ileo-cæcal valve after much search
two small acid fast rods were found. Cultural examination for J was fairly complete,
but the result was negative.
42. Very thin at time of death and had not been thriving. T lesions present.
The ileo-cæcal valve was slightly congested. Films from the intestinal wall were
negative but those from antiformin deposits showed a few clumps of acid-fast bacilli,
many of the organisms resembling J. No material was taken for histological exami
nation. Cultural examination was extensive, but the result was negative.
398 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, IV
43. A bull. Did not react to tuberculin and no T lesions seen postmortem. Ileo-
cæcal valve deeply congested. Cultural examination was extensive and many fruit-
less attempts were made by periodic subculture to demonstrate J. After 8 months'
incubation a tube of the liver extract-broth medium showed slight scaly surface
growth in which acid-fast bacilli were present but no subcultures could be obtained.
44. No evidence of T. Antiformin preparations showed no acid-fast bacilli micros-
copically, sections from three different sites in the ileum gave no indication of J. The
cultural examination was not extensive.
45. A yearling calf, badly affected with T. Unfortunately, most of the culture
from intestine and gland were contaminated.
46. A yearling calf, badly affected with T. Cultural examination of the intestine
and glands for J was extensive, but the result was negative. This animal was from a
group of 6 calves, 2 of which were proved later to be infected with avian tubercle bacilli.
The johnin reaction in this case may have been due to infection with either avian or
bovine tubercle bacilli.
REACTORS IN WHICH THE PREVIOUS OR SUBSEQUENT HISTORY SUGGESTED JOHNE'S
DISEASE
During this work there have been a small number of animals which for various
reasons could not be brought to postmortem examination, but where the history was
suggestive of Johne's disease. Such cases go to substantiate the value of johnin, but
do not, of course carry as much weight as those which could be thoroughly examined
after death.
47. Shorthorn. Second calver. R1, 84, 196, 293 and 426. Calved a few weeks
after day 426. Reported by the owner to have died a few days after calving, greatly
wasted, due probably to Johne's disease.
48. Shorthorn cow. Belonged to same herd as No. 47 and mother believed to
have died of J. R1, 98, 293, 391 and 524 ; NR 182. NR 524 (tuberculin). Reported to
have lost flesh rapidly by day 674 and the butcher found it to be " one of the worst
cases ever opened ".
49. Shorthorn. First calver. R1, when thin and scouring. Second calf day 61.
Sold before day 90 " with every appearance of Johne's disease ".
50. Shorthorn. First calver. Reported by owner to have scoured badly for a
time.
51. Shorthorn. Second calver. Reported by owner to scour at times.
52. Shorthorn. Third calver. Reported by owner to have scoured badly for a
time.
Nos. 50, 51 and 52 belonged to the same herd.
53. Friesian. Third calver, R December. Reported to have been scouring
during the previous summer.
DIAGNOSIS OF JOHNE'S DISEASE BY THE USE OF JOHNIN
399
NON-REACTORS FOUND TO BE AFFECTED WITH JOHNE'S DISEASE.
It is to be noted that three of these were tested once only and that one of the
remainder was an advanced clinical case from the start.
54. Welsh heifer. Good condition. NR1 (anal). Showed symptoms shortly
after K 48. No T lesions. Advanced lesions of J in intestine. J seen in smears and
sections of intestine and isolated in culture.
55. Welsh heifer. Very poor condition. NR1 (also tuberculin). K15. No T
lesions. Advanced lesions of J in intestine and numerous J in films therefrom.
56. Shorthorn cow. Fair condition. NR1 (anal). Owner suspected J shortly
before slaughter. K 295. No T lesions. Slight lesions of J in intestine ; examination
of sections showed numerous giant cells and small numbers of scattered J ; J isolated
in culture.
57. Ayrshire heifer, in first pregnancy. Very poor and scouring. NR (also anal),
1, 111 and 132. NR 132 (tuberculin). K 141. No T lesions. No definite J lesions
and no J found in films of intestine. In sections of the intestine there were numerous
giant cells, but only three small acid-fast bacilli like J could be found after much
search. J isolated in culture.
58. Shorthorn cow. Fair condition. NR1 (also anal) and 62. Slight R 22
(tuberculin), NR 43 (tuberculin subcutaneous). Wasted rapidly after day l. K. 66. T
lesion found in one submaxillary gland only and gp inoculated from it became tuber-
culous. Ileo-cæcal valve congested and slight lesions of J in ileum. J seen in films
and in very large numbers in sections of the small and large intestine and were
isolated in culture.
59. Shorthorn heifer. Fair condition. NR1 and 101. Thin at time of second
test and became very emaciated by day 199 when K. No T lesions. Advanced lesions
of J in intestine, J seen in films and in enormous numbers in sections of intestine and
cultivated therefrom.
DISCUSSION
Reports in the literature dealing with the value of johnin, prepared in various
ways and injected in most cases by the subcutaneous or intravenous route are given
by Twort and Ingram [1913], M'Fadyean, Sheather and Edwards [1916], Beach,
and Hastings [1922] and others. The diagnosis postmortem was based on the
presence of lesions visible to the naked eye and on the finding of acid-fast bacilli
in smears of the intestinal mucous membrane. As to the use of johnin intrader¬
mally, Broerman and Fogle [1932] reported the results of tests by the single in-
jection method. Definitely positive reactions were obtained in 27 animals and
of these 19 were brought to postmortem. A positive diagnosis by microscopic
examination of films from the intestine was made in twelve of the 19, but slight or
marked naked-eye lesions were present in three of the others. Of the eight animals
not brought to postmortem, one was a clinical case. Dunkin [1928] refers to 17
reactors, of which the fate was known and which were detected in field tests by the
400 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, 'V
double intradermal method. Of these eight were clinical cases and the remainder
were found to be affected with Johne's disease on postmortem. Houthuis, whose
results of johnin testing were reported in 1932, has made it clear to me by private
communication that he examined postmortem 42 cattle of which 38 were found to
be affected with Johne's disease. The diagnosis was based on an exhaustive
histological examination of the intestine and glands, since macroscopic evidence
of disease was absent in several cases. Johnin testing was carried out by the double
intradermal method. Forty-one of the animals were tested with johnin prepared
by Sheather on the Sauton synthetic medium and of these 27 reacted ; eight of
the non-reactors, however, were advanced clinical cases and the other four non-
reactors were positive on postmortem examination. Twenty-eight of the 42 were
tested with johnin prepared by Dunk in according to the method described by him
in 1928 ; of these 25 reacted, two of the non-reactors were advanced clinical cases
and the remaining one was found to be affected on postmortem examination. Of
the 27 reactors to Sheather johnin 25 were found to be affected with Johne's disease
and two with tuberculosis only. Of the 25 reactors to Dunkin johnin 24 were
found to be affected with Johne's disease and one with tuberculosis only.
The results obtained with the series of 59 animals now recorded are summarised
in Table I
TABLE I
Postmortem Examination.
+ . . .
+ . . .
No p. m. History suggestive of Johne's disease
Johnin.
+
39
7
7
53
Johnin.
-
6
..
..
6
From this it may be seen that of 46 reactors which were examined postmortem
39 were definitely proved to be infected with Johne's disease. The remaining
seven animals were dealt with at an early stage of the work and postmortem was
incomplete ; nevertheless, in four of them acid-fast bacilli which may have been
those of Johne's bacilli were met with. In three of the 39 cases, viz., NOS. 37, 38
and 39, the disease was at a very early stage and a definite diagnosis was effected
by cultural methods only. In two cases (Nos. 28 and 31) cultural methods failed
and a diagnosis was established by finding acid-fast bacilli in films or sections of the
intestine. Altogether, of the 53 animals which reacted, 39 were definitely infected
DIAGNOSIS OF JOHNE'S DISEASE BY THE USE OF JOHNIN
401
and there is evidence to indicate that eleven of the remaining 14 were also infected.
Of the six animals which did not react, three were tested once only and four of the
six were at an advanced clinical stage. Out of the whole series of animals two were
Ayrshires, a breed not commonly reported as infected ; these belonged to a herd
in England which was being recruited with this breed.
In those infected animals which were subjected to several retests it was found
that strong reactions were not produced every time. Occasionally, on retest the
reaction was slight or indefinite, or even negative. In this connection special
attention should be directed to Case 20. There may, of course, be differences of
opinion as to the interpretation which should be placed on slight swellings, but this
does not alter the conclusion that much variation may occur in the degree of local
response. The differences may be due either to variations in the potency of the
johnin used or to variations in the allergic state of the animal. The former
explanation seems unlikely for several reasons. Firstly, the reagent was always
made in the same way and by the same person, and variation in its properties
would be less likely with a synthetic medium than with one containing albuminous
fluids. The strain of Johne's bacillus used for seedling the medium gave rich
growths on it and the contents of four flasks were mixed before the cultures were
concentrated. Secondly, some quite definite positive reactions were obtained
with every batch of the reagent used. With regard to the second explanation, it
is agreed that the allergic condition created by the Johne's bacillus is relatively
low, e.g., as compared with that induced by the tubercle bacillus; moreover, it
would not be expected that an infected animal, even though it remained in fair
condition, would maintain the same level of allergy at all times. The fact that
cattle affected with Johne's disease may react well at one test and indefinitely at
a subsequent one has been noted by others, though no extensive series of repeat
tests has been reported. This is one of the reasons why repeated testing would be
required in any serious attempt to eradicate the disease.
There was nothing to show from the postmortem examinations that the
reactions to johnin were connected with tuberculous infection. Tuberculous
lesions were found in eight of the 39 animals, were not found in 26, and in five
cases a complete postmortem was not possible. It may be noted that nine of the
26 animals referred to did show what was interpreted as a positive reaction to tuber-
culin, but in four of the nine animals control tests on guinea-pigs were not made.
As it happened, however, in the present series tuberculosis was not set up in, any
guinea-pig inoculated from apparently healthy glands.
SUMMARY
An account is given of 59 cattle of which 52 were examined postmortem for
Johne's disease and many for tuberculosis, fifty-three of the 59 animals had
reacted to the double intradermal test with johnin, many of them on more than
one occasion. Thirty-nine of the 53 were conclusively proved to be infected with
402 THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY [V, IV
Johne's disease, while there was presumptive evidence of this infection, either from
postmortem examination or from the history of the case, in eleven of the re-
maining 14. Six of the 59 animals did not react to johnin, but three of them were
tested once only and four of the six were at an advanced clinical stage.
Repeat tests with johnin on a number of the animals showed much variation
in the degree of local response, a result which is attributed to variations in the
allergic state.
REFERENCES
Beach, B. A., and Hastings, E. G. 1922. J. Inf. Dis., 30, 68.
Broerman, A., and Fogle, A. E. 1932. J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., 81, 795.
Dunkin, G. W. 1928. J. Comp. Path. and Therap, 41, 94.
Griffith, A. S. 1916. Lancet, i, 723.
Houthuis, M. J. J. 1932. Vet. Rec., 12, 1488.
M'Fadyean, J., Sheather, A. L., and Edwards, J. T. 1912. J. Com. Path. and Therap,
25, 217 ; Ibid., 1916, 29, 134 and 201.
Minett, F. C. 1933. Veterinary Record, 13, 1074.
Twort, F. W., and Ingram, G. L. Y. 1913. A Monograph on Johne's Disease. Bailliere,
Tindall & Cox, London.
ABSTRACTS
The sheep nasal fly. A method of treatment for sheep infected with larvae
of Oestrus ovis DU TOIT, R., and CLARK, R. (1935). J. South Afric.
Vet. Med. Assoc. 6, 25- 32.)
The treatment consists of an injection into each frontal sinus of 2 c. c. of a mixture
of equal parts of carbon bisulphide and liquid paraffin by means of the following
instrument (Fig. 1) .
FIG. 1.
Trocar and canula as used for injection into the
frontal sinuses of sheep. Natural size.
( 403 )
406
THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. [V, IV
swelling usually persists from eight months to two years, average one year, but occa-
sionally it may even persist for six years. As long as this focus persists, the animal is
resistent to a superinfection with the natural disease. In animals which had previously
contracted the infection, the swelling is rapidly eliminated either by absorption or
abscess formation.
As a proof of the unquestionable harmlessness of the method, mention is made of its
rapidly increasing popularity, as judged from the increase in the number of premuni¬
tions effected, i.e., from 803 during 1929 to 12,866 for the first five months in 1934.
Again, out of 33,341 premunised animals not a single case of infection traceable to the
vaccination is said to have occurred.
As evidence of its efficacy, the claim is put forward that the disease had been
eradicated in about 140 herds by the adoption of premunition. Exceptions were
noticed only in instances where premunition had not been repeated after the disappear-
ance of the original nodule and in those cases where the vaccination was undertaken
after the animals had contracted the infection naturally. [V. R. R.].
NOTE
The Maynard-Ganga Ram Prize.
In 1925 the late Sir Ganga Ram, Kt., C.I.E., M.V.O., R.B., Lahore, with
that generosity for which he was so well known, handed over to the Punjab
Government a sum of Rs. 25,000 for the endowment of a prize of the value of
Rs. 3,000 to be called the Maynard-Ganga Ram Prize and to be awarded every
three years, for a discovery, or an invention, or a new practical method which
will tend to increase agricultural production in the Punjab on a paying basis.
The competition is open to all throughout the world. Government servants are
also eligible to compete for it.
Entries for the next award were invited by the 31st December, 1933. None
of the entries was considered to be of sufficient merit and it has been decided by
the Managing Committee of the prize that the award should be postponed for
another year and that further entries should reach the Director of Agriculture,
Punjab, Lahore, on or before the 31st December, 1935.
* * * * * * * *
Applications are invited for " The Maynard-Ganga Ram Prize " of the
value of Rs. 3,000 which will be awarded for a discovery, or an invention, or a new
practical method tending to increase agricultural production in the Punjab on a
paying basis. The prize is open to all, irrespective of caste, creed or nationality,
and Government servants are also eligible for competition. The applicants should
prove that some part of their discovery, invention, etc., is the result of work done
after the prize was founded in 1925. The Managing Committee reserves to itself
the right of withholding or postponing the prize, if no satisfactory achievement
is reported to it. All entries in competition for the next award should reach the
Director of Agriculture, Punjab, Lahore, on or before the 31st December, 1935.
( 407 )
408
NOTICE
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Ditto.
22. Notes on the collections and preservation of entomological specimens ; Study
of life-history of Insect, by Stebbing (1901).
409
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