178
ABSTRACTS
[Vol. XXIV, Part III,
Control of epizootic cerebro-spinal nematodiasis in goats. PILLAI, C. P.
T HIS condition known as 'Goat paralysis' was encountered in Ceylon in goats
imported from India. The goats belonged to Jamnapari, Scindhi and Kamori
breeds. The disease was caused by nematode (Setaria) larvae found in the brain
and spinal cord. The paper records the successful treatment of nine cases of such
paralysis with "1-Diethylcarbamyl-4-Methyl piperazine citrate" (Caracide) dis-
covered in the Lederle Laboratories in the U. S. A. Symptoms recorded are motor
weakness and posterior incoordination ; in some there is swaying and stumbling,
while in others, there is complete loss of motor power in the hind limbs or in all
the four legs. Onset is sudden and the condition is non-febrile. Some die while
many survive. In cases where onset is insidious the first sign is the unsteadiness
of the hind limbs which might not be progressive.
'Caricide' is claimed to possess filaricidal activity in this disease without any
toxic effects within the prescribed doses of 40 mg. per kilogram of the body weight.
Five cases were treated in the Laboratory and four in the field with the drug given
per os and repeated for three consecutive days in the laboratory and two days in
the field. Animals which could not stand were placed in slings. Normal feed of
Jack leaves and coconut cake was given ad lib. All these cases responded to the
treatment. The animals resumed normal gait without any residual effect in about
10-15 days. In one case of long duration the drug had no effect. It is important
to take up cases for treatment at the very early onset of nervous symptoms if cure
is to be effected satisfactorily. (M.R.M.)
Lapinised rinderpest virus and a vaccine : some observations in East Africa
I. Laboratory experiments.
II. Field trials with lapinised vaccine.
BROTHERSTON, J. G. (1951). J. Comp. Path. 61, 4, 263-288 and 289-306
B ROTHERSTON has described the successful maintenance of lapinised rinder-
pest virus in rabbits at Kabete and its use as an immunising agent against
bovine rinderpest in East Africa. For the maintenance of the virus locally
bred rabbits of Albino and Rex breed, over 4½ months of age and 1000 gm.
in body weight, were used and for other experiments susceptible, 2½ to 5-year old
steers—high or medium grade crosses of European breeds with native Zebu cattle
were used. Lapinised rinderpest virus (Nakamura strain III) at its 795th serial
passage, in dried form was obtained form Naking in 1948, and was passaged in
local rabbits in fresh as well as in freeze-dried forms. The latter was prepared by
drying mesentric lymph gland, spleen and five parts of blood in an Edwards
Machine No. 3 P.S.
The syndrome in rabbits inoculated intravenously with freshly harvested blood
and those given dried virus, were found to be similar. Rabbits could also be success-
fully infected by intra-peritoneal and subcutaneous routes, but in the latter, a
delayed reaction was noticed and well developed lesions could not be seen until
after the 72nd hour. Infected rabbits showed a rise of temperature usually at
the 36th hour, which was maintained upto the 64th hour, after which somewhere