NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
June, 1955] TULSA RAM AND RADHEY MOHAN SHARMA 101
(a) Effect of tuberculosis infection on average span of life
For this purpose, animals in the two groups were taken in their serial order of
entry in the livestock register and at least equal number of cows of each quarter in
both the groups were included. Only such cows were considered in the study which
had died a natural death due to any cause except contagious diseases, accidents
and those destroyed. The results of the examination are summarised in Table I.
TABLE I
Effect of tuberculosis infection on average span of life in Hariana-Hissar cows
No.
1.
2.
Group
Tuberculin positive
Tuberculin negative
No. of
Animals
302
414
Average span
of life (days)
4690.73
}
4781.16
Difference
(days)
90.43
t
4.630
Results. The span of life in the two groups ranged from 1,400 to 7,300 days
in the positive herd and from 1,287 to 8,700 days in the negative herd with an
average of 4690.73 and 4781.16 days respectively. The difference in the average
span of life between the two groups is 90.43 days only which however, is highly
significant statistically. The majority of deaths, i.e. 71.0 per cent in the reactor
herd and 72.2 per cent in the non-reactors occurred between the age from 4,200 to
6,400 days. Post-mortem findings based on examination of 302 cases revealed that
more than 80 per cent carcases of the reactors showed lesions localised in mediastinal
and/or bronchial lymph glands only. The incidence of miliary tuberculosis was
found to be about 15 per cent when internal organs like lungs were mostly affected
in addition to the lymphatic glands. Cases of generalised tuberculosis were occa-
sionally met with and their incidence did not exceed 5 per cent.
(b) Effect of tuberculosis infection on breeding efficiency
Breeding efficiency of 311 reactors and 417 non-reactors of the same age group
was studied by determining the number of calves born to each animal during their
span of life. Table II shows the results of the comparative study.
TABLE II
Effect of tuberculosis infection on the breeding efficiency of Hariana-Hissar cows
No.
1.
2.
Group
Tuberculin positive
Tuberculin negative
No. of
Animals
311
417
No. of calves
born (average)
5.28
}
5.44
Difference
0.16
t
1.000
Results. The average number of calves born was 5.28 and 5.44 in the above
two groups of animals, the difference being 0.16 only which is statistically non-
significant. The general level of breeding efficiency in both the groups is, however.
102
TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION IN HARIANA CATTLE
[Vol. XXV, Part II,
low as compared to that observed in foreign countries. This is mainly due to low
plane of nutrition on account of recurrent famine conditions prevailing in this tract.
(c) Incidence of tuberculosis in the progeny of tuberculous cows
As a result of the insidious nature and very variable incubation period of the
disease, the incidence of infection is noticeable as the age advances. Hutyra et al.,
[1949] report that the mortality figure rises yearly from the suckling age and in cattle
more than half the animals which react to the tuberculin test or are proved to be
tuberculous at meat inspection, are past the sixth year of life.
In view of the above fact records of the progeny of the reactor and non-reactor
cows born during the period from 1939 to 1949, were examined in relation to the
occurrence of reactors among them detected at the yearly tuberculin tests. In all,
records of 441 progeny of the reactors and 508 progeny of the non-reactors were
studied. Twenty cases in the progeny of the reactors and 16 animals from the
progeny of the non-reactor herd proved positive to tuberculin according to results
of tests conducted upto March, 1953. The results of analysis are summarised in
Table III.
TABLE III
Effect of tuberculosis infection in dams on their progeny
No.
1.
2.
Group
Tuberculin positive
Tuberculin negative
No. of
progeny
tested
441
508
No. of
reactors
20
16
Reactors
(Per cent)
4.53
3.15
Difference
(Per cent)
}1.38
X 2
1.241
Results. It would be observed that in spite of the fact that the calves born of
reactor cows remained with them and suckled them for about six months after
birth, the difference in the incidence of infection in the two groups is non-significant
statistically. Twenty animals out of 441 progeny of reactor mothers proved positive
to tuberculin as compared to 16 animals from 508 progeny of tuberculin negative
herd.
DISCUSSION
The entire reactor herd consisting of nearly 300 cows and eight buffaloes was
examined and milk from six cows and two buffalo cows, which were extremely
emaciated and could be suspected as clinical cases of the disease, was subjected to
microscopical examination, guineapig inoculation and guineapig feeding trial with
pooled sample of their raw milk. No acid-fast organisms could be seen under the
104
TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION IN HARIANA CATTLE
[Vol. XXV, Part II,
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors feel indebted to Major A. C. Aggarwala, formerly Principal, Punjab
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Hissar, Punjab, and to Shri
B. N. Handa, Director of Animal Husbandry and Warden of Fisheries, Punjab,
for valuable suggestions in the writing of this paper.
REFERENCES
Francis, J. (1947). Bovine Tuberculosis
Hutyra, F. J. Marek and R. Manninger, (1949). Special Pathology and Therapeutics of the Diseases
of Domestic Animals, 5th Edition, I, 577
Records of Government Livestock Farm, Hissar (India)
Sahai, L. and M. R. Dhanda (1944-45). Tuberculosis and Johne's Disease Scheme. Ann. Rep., Indian
Counc. Agri. Res.
Veterinary Investigation Officer (1936-1945). Ann. Rep. of V. I. O., Punjab
APPLICATION OF BENZENE HEXACHLORIDE FOR THE
CONTROL OF ECTOPARASITES OF DAIRY CATTLE
AND ITS EFFECT ON MILK YIELD
By B. C. BASU, C. M. SEN GUPTA and P. BALARAMA MENON,
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 14 October 1953)
I N a previous communication, Basu et al., [1952] reported the result about
the control of ectoparasites on dairy cattle by the use of DDT, Pyrocide
20, Pyrethrum, etc. and their formulations and effect on milk yield. Later
on, a series of experiments were conducted on the same lines with another organic
insecticide, viz., benzene hexachloride, the results of which are presented in this
note.
The most common ectoparasites recorded in the area are : 1. Musca nebulo,
2. Musca crassirostris, 3. Lyperosia exigua, 4. Stomoxys calcitrans, 5. Hippobosca
maculata, 6. Hyalomma aegyptium and 7. Boophilus australis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Benzene hexachloride sprays were used in the following dilutions :
A. 0.001 per cent gamma BHC in kerosine oil was sprayed every day for a
month.
B. 0.002 per cent gamma BHC in kerosine oil was sprayed every alternate
day for a month.
C. 0.003 per cent gamma BHC in kerosine oil was sprayed every week for a
month.
D. 0.005 per cent gamma BHC in kerosine oil was sprayed once in the be-
ginning of the month.
Twenty animals used in the experiment were approximately of the same lacta-
tion. They were divided into five groups of four each. Four groups received one
of the four sprays A, B, C and D while the group V remained as control. The
spraying was done for one month during June and July.
The animals were all of Hariana breed belonging to the Institute dairy farm.
Spraying was done all over the body, excepting eyes and udder, by a hand sprayer
every day at 6 o'clock in the morning. Approximately 60 c.c. of the mixture was
used per cow per day. The spraying was continued for a month and separate con-
trols were kept. The milk records, not only for the period during which the spray-
ing operation was continued but also for one month both preceding and following
the operation, were kept.
In order to evaluate the increase and decrease in milk yield the following pro-
cedure was adopted. In each group the milk record was kept for the period during
which spraying operation was conducted as well as for one month both preceding
105
141 A.R./54
8
106
APPLICATION OF BENZENE HEXACHLORIDE
[Vol. XXV, Part II,
and following it. It can be seen that in Table I the milk yield per cow per month
preceding the application of sprays is taken as the base while in Table II the figures
for the period when the spraying was done are taken as the base. Over these bases
the percentage of milk yield was calculated and was compared with the controls to
find out the apparent increase or decrease in milk yield.
RESULTS
The result of the experiment during the period of spraying is presented in Table
I which shows that an apparent increase in milk yield over the controls varies from
3.1 to 11.6 per cent, which is highly significant.
TABLE I
Milk yield in pounds during the month preceding spraying
Group
receiving
spray
I
II
III
IV
V (control)
Milk yield in lb. per cow per month
for periods
7-5-52 to 6-6-52
228.1
175.1
295.6
205.5
213.2
7-6-52 to 6-7-52
201.6
151.8
242.8
164.0
163.7
Percentage of base
88.3
86.6
82.1
79.8
76.7
Per cent apparent
increase over
control
11.6
9.9
5.4
3.1
..
The record of milk yield for one month following the application of spray is
presented in Table II.
TABLE II
Milk yield in pounds during the month following spraying
Group
receiving
spray
I
II
III
IV
V (control)
Milk yield in lb. per cow per month
for periods
7-6-52 to 6-7-52
201.6
151.8
242.8
164.0
163.7
7-7-52 to 6-8-52
205.5
156.1
243.8
140.7
161.8
Percentage of base
101.4
102.0
100.4
85.8
98.8
Per cent apparent
increase over
control
2.6
3.2
1.6
—13.0
..
FOETAL-MATERNAL ATTACHMENTS IN BUFFALO AND
CAMEL
By E. S.E. HAFEZ, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Cairo, Egypt
(Received for publication on 23 July 1954)
(With two text-figures)
A LL mammals except the duck-bill and spiny ant-eater are viviparous. The
minute ova contain so little yolk that they can never pass beyond the very
early stages of development unless additional food material is provided. The pre-
natal life starts with segmentation of the fertilized ova, then it is caught and lod-
ged in the superficial tissue of the endometrium. The foetus is usually carried in the
corresponding uterine horn. However, transuterine (internal) migration of the
ovum has been reported in pig, sheep, goat, horse and certain members of Carnivora,
Cheiroptera, Insectivora, Rodentia and Primates [Boyd, Hamilton and Ham-
mond, Jr. 1944]. There is a mutual physiological attraction between the blasto-
cyst and the endometrium. This attraction is responsible for the fixation of the
former during the duration of gestation so as to ensure the exchange of metabolites.
In the early phases of blastocyst development amnion, allantois and chorion
are formed, essentially similar to those structures developed in reptiles and birds.
Certain regions of the allantoic sac fuse with the adjacent chorion and enter into a
very peculiar relation with the uterine wall. The nature and degree of intimacy
in the association of foetal and maternal tissues are unequally established in the
uteri of different mammals. In Eutherian mammals, the simplest form placenta
diffusa occurs in horse, donkey and pig. Placenta cotyledonaria is found in Precora
(ruminants) except the musk deer. Placenta zonaria is found in Carnivora whilst
placenta discodalis occurs in Rodentia, Insectivora, Chiroptera and Primates
[Amroso, 1952]. On the other hand, marsupial mammals (Metatheria, the kangaroo
and its allies) produce only a weakly developed and briefly temporary placenta [Neal
and Rand, 1948]. Thus in placental mammals, as compared to marsupials, the
young are born at a relatively advanced stage of development and growth.
The physiology of pregnancy in buffalo has been reviewed by Hafez [1952],
the gestation period being about 314 days. The developmental changes in buffalo
placentome have been investigated by Hafez [1954]. Knowledge concerning pla-
cental physiology in camel is still obscure. The present investigation is a morpho-
logical and anatomical study of the foetal-maternal attachments in the domestic
buffalo and camel.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The material was pregnant genitalia from 83 buffaloes and 34 camels. The
animals were sacrificed at Cairo slaughter house and the genital organs were trans-
ferred to the Animal Breeding Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo. Notation
was made on the location of corpus luteum of pregnancy in the ovaries. The uteri
109
141 AR/54
9
June, 1955]
E. S. E.
HAFEZ
111
Fig. 1. Schematized diagram showing species differences in the foetal-maternal attachments between
the buffalo and camel.
1. Ovary with corpus luteum of pregnancy. 2. Ovary without corpus luteum of pregnancy. 3. Fall-
opion tube. 4. Necrotic apex of foetal membrane (only present in the buffalo). 5. Gravid uterine horn.
6. Vitelline sac. 7. Allantio-chorionic membranes. 8. Endometrium. 9. Chorionic villi. (Note they are
segregated in restricted cotyledons in the case of buffalo, being bigger in the gravid horn. In the camel
they are distributed all over the chorion.). 10. Amnion. 11. Amniotic fluid. 12. Foetus. 13. Body of the
uterus being small relatively to the gravid uterus in both species. 14. Cervix. (Note the annual folds in the
buffalo and the S shape in the camel). 15. Non-gravid horn. 16. Amniotic pustules (only present in the buffalo).
17. Umbilical cord. 18. Meconium.
112
FOETAL-MATERNAL ATTACHMENTS
[Vol. XXV, Part II,
Fig. 2. Schematized diagram showing tissue attachments between the foetus and the mother in the buffalo and camel.
June, 1955]
E.
S.
E.
HAFEZ
113
and increased vascularity. The chorionic villi were uniformly distributed on the
outer surface of chorion. They appeared as small reddish spots, with a diameter
ranging from one to three millimeters. They were all of the same size and density
in the two uterine horns and with advancing pregnancy tended to unite in small
patches. The rate of development in their height and diameter seemed to be negli-
gible throughout pregnancy. The placental membranes were filled with its fluids
but did not show any signs of necrotic apex at either end (Fig. 1). The hippomane
were not present in the allantois as well as the amniotic pustules. Meanwhile, the
amnion contained a good amount of meconium which might indicate the occurrence
of defaecation in the pre-natal life. In 30 per cent of the cases the foetus was observed
in the uterine horn opposite to the site of ovulation (corpus luteum of pregnancy);
this was an evidence of ova migration. There was no intimate fusion between the
chorionic villi and the endometrium as they were easily freed. In the histological
sections the maternal tissues were preserved intact and the chorionic epithelium
came in direct contact with the maternal uterine epithelium (Fig. 2). A comparative
study of the placentation in the buffalo and camel is summarised in Table I.
TABLE I
Placentation in the camel and buffalo
Ova migration
Pr e gna nc y
Distribution of chorionic villi
Presence of necrotic tips
Maternal tissue
Foetal tissue
Endothelium
Connective
Epithelium
Endothelium
Connective
Epithelium
Meconium in the amnion
Amniotic pustules
Hippomane in the allantois
Shedding of maternal tissue at parturition
—
in coty-
ledons
+
+
+
—
+
+
+
—
+
+
+
+
unrest-
ricted
—
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
—
—
—
June, 1955]
E.
S.
E.
HAFEZ
115
type. In the buffalo, with less tissue separating the two blood streams, the placenta
changes in construction during embryonic life.
SUMMARY
Genitalia from non-pregnant and pregnant genital organs of buffaloes and camels
were dissected. There was no ova migration in the buffalo while in camel it was in
30 per cent cases. The placentation of the buffalo was cotyledonary and syndes-
mochorial. Chorionic villi were only observed in the cotyledons, the number of
cotyledons ranged from 42 to 147. The number as well as the diameter and height
of cotyledons varied with the stage of pregnancy and position in uterus; a diameter
of 13 cm. was recorded. The allantois was terminated by necrotic tips while the
amnion contained amniotic pustules. Placentation in the camel was diffused and
epitheliochorial. Chorionic villi were uniformly distributed on the chorion in both
horns. The number and height of the villi did not vary much with the advancing
pregnancy. There were no necrotic tips of allantois nor amniotic pustules in the
amnion.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work was carried out at the Animal Breeding Department, Faculty of
Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt. The investigation is still in progress and detailed accounts
of these experiments will appear elsewhere. Thanks are due to the University of
Cairo for granting part of the funds.
REFERENCES
Amroso, E. C. (1952). Placentation, Chapter 15, In Marshall's Physiology of Reproduction, Longmans,
London, Volume II.
Boyd, J. D., Hamilton, W. J. and Hammond, J. Jr. (1944) J. Anat. 78, 5
Cloette, J. H. L. (1939). Onderstepoort J. vet. Sci. 13, 417
Craig, J. F. (1930). Fleming Vererinary Obstetrics, 4th Edition London
Ellenberger, W. and Baum, H. (1921). Handbuch der Vergleichenden Anatomie der Haustiere, Berlin
Grant, R. (1933). Vet. J. 89, 271
Hafez, E, S. E. (1952). Indian. J. vet. Sci. 22, 257
—(1954).
Act. Zool. (In Press)
Hammond, J. (1927). The Physiology of Reproduction in the Cow, Cambridge University Press
Neal, H. V. and Rand, H. W. (1948). Comparative Anatomy, Blackiston, Philadelphia
Rokik, H. H. (1907). Arch. wissprakt. Tierheilk. 33, 421
Sommer, M. (1912). Z. Tiermed. 16, 235
Strahl, H. (1912). Anat. Anz. 40, 257
MILK DIET IN TRYPANOSOMA
EVANSI INFECTION
IN RATS
By H. G. SEN, B. N. DUTTA AND H. N. RAY, School of Tropical Medicine, Calcutta
(Received for publication on 20 October 1954)
I N a previous communication, we reported that starvation of the host could not
alter the development of flagellates T. evansi significantly from that in well-fed
animals [Sen, Dutta and Ray, 1954]. Based on the above observations we sug-
gested that deficiency diet in respect of certain vitamins and amino acids, etc. have
hardly any effect on the course of experimental T. evansi infection in rats. The
effects of various diets on the different species of trypanosomes have been reported
by some workers.
Recently the effect of milk diet on different protozoal infections has attracted
the attention of the parasitologists, when it was found that it had some suppressive
effect on the course of different plasmodial infections [Maegraith, Deegan and Jones,
1952; Dutta, Chaudhuri and Sett, 1953]. The mechanism of suppression by this
diet has been attributed to deficiency in PABA, folic acid [Hawking, 1953, 1954],
and cortisone [Fulton, 1954]. But it is still complex to be understood for any of
these or other unknown factors may be involved in the growth of the plasmodia
[Maegraith, 1954]. The effect of milk diet on T. evansi has not been reported so far
and with a view to exploring the host-parasite relationship under this dietary condi-
tion the present study was undertaken.
EXPERIMENTAL
Young white rats were used as the experimental hosts. The details such a
species and strains of the parasite, method of inoculation and counting procedures
have been described in our previous paper (loc. cit. 1954). The rats were divided into
two homogeneous groups, taking equal number in each. One group was kept on the
normal laboratory diet while the other one was offered about 100 c.c. of pasteur-
ised milk every day. The milk pots were changed frequently during the day so as
to prevent milk from curdling. They were infected about the same time by the
subcutaneous route.
RESULTS
The results obtained in the two experiments are given in Tables I and II.
117
141 AR/54
118
TRYPANOSOMA INFECTION IN RATS
[Vol. XXV, Part II,
TABLE I
Number of trypanosomes per 1000 erythrocytes
Number of days after inoculation
Rat
No.
231
232
233
234
235
236
225
226
227
228
229
230
1
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
2
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
3
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
4
-ve
-ve
-ve
v.s.
-ve
4
5
Control
-ve
-ve
-ve
3
v.s.
v.s.
v.s.
v.s.
v.s.
48
5
12
Milk
52
v.s.
v.s.
-ve
3
-ve
336
5
20
18
35
v.s.
6
95
42
32
290
30
214
*
184†
163*
95
215
106
7
*
196*
94
*
123
*
235†
*
182
8
*
345†
* Found dead.
† Treated with antrycide.
Milk diet was started six days prior to infection. Both the groups were inoculated by subcu-
taneous route with 1 x 10 6 trypanosomes.
TABLE II
Number of trypanosomes per 1000 erythrocytes
Rat No.
215
216
217
218
219
220
Number of days after inoculation
1
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
2
5
4
2
1
2
3
3
Control
30
33
15
35
25
15
4
195
*
130
220
360
160
5
*
*
*
*
*
6
[Table II continued on the next page.
June. 19.55] H. G. SEN, B. N. DUTTA AND H. N. RAY 119
TABLE II—(contd.)
Number of trypanosomes per 1000 erythrocytes
Rat No.
209
210
211
212
213
214
Number of days after inoculation
1
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
ve
2
-ve
-ve
-ve
-ve
2
v.s.
3
4
Milk
3
5
14
2
15
4
84
90
100
45
120
101
5
273*
300†
320*
254†
305†
340*
6
* Found dead.
† Treated with antrycide.
Milk diet was started nine days prior to inoculation. Both the groups were inoculated with 10 × 10 6
trypanosomes (subcutaneous).
A perusal of Table II suggests that the resultant course of infection on milk is
practically identical with that on the normal laboratory diet. In the first experiment,
a somewhat delay of a day for the attainment of maximum peak before death was
observed in the milk group, but no such differences could be confirmed in the second
set of experiment. No statistical significance between the milk and the control
groups could be detected.
Cytochemical studies of Trypanosoma evansi carried out in both the groups
did not show any variation from each other with regard to the pattern of mucopoly-
saccharides, alkaline phosphates, DNA and RNA in the organisms.
These experiments confirm our previous observation showing that Trypano-
soma evansi are fastidious in character requiring certain factors for their growth
which are not altered during milk feeding.
DISCUSSION
Our results record that milk diet does not alter the course of Trypanosoma evansi
infection in experimental rats. Similar results have been recently reported in
animals kept on this diet and infected with T. rhodesiense, T. cruzi and Leishmania
donovani. On the other hand, the different species of plasmodia (P. berghei, P.
knowlesi, P. vincke and P. vivax) have been found to be sensitive to milk diet to
a varying degree [Maegraith, Deegan and Jones, 1952 ; Dutta, Chaudhuri and Sett,
1953 ; Bray and Garnham, 1953; Refat, Bray and Maegraith, 1953 ; Rodhain,
1953 ; Hawking, 1954]. Milk diet was found to act on the dividing stages of the
parasites in the erythrocytes but could not arrest the development of the pre-
erythrocytic stages of the simian parasite (P. knowlesi). In our experiments,