NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
December, 1958] P. B. NILAKANTAN AND B. K. KATHURIA 199
Toxin production
In the initial stages of the work the method adopted by Bennetts [1932] for the
production of toxin by Cl. welchii isolated from cases of enterotoxaemia was used.
Later, the one suggested by Dalling and Ross [1938] was adopted so that the
different toxic components could be produced separately and tested.
For the production of toxins, a pure culture of the organism was inoculated
intramuscularly into the breast muscles of a pigeon in a dose of 0.25 ml. of a 24
hours' growth in cooked meat medium or brain medium along with 0.2 ml. of a 5
per cent solution of calcium chloride. Death of the pigeon invariably occurred in
about 4 to 8 hours. Soon after death of the pigeon, muscles at the site of inocula-
tion were collected and used for seeding the appropriate medium for toxin produc-
tion. After incubating the culture flasks for the requisite period, which varied from
18 to 96 hours, they were examined for purity, filtered through muslin to remove
gross particles of meat in the medium, centrifuged at 3000 r.p.m. for 30 minutes
and filtered through Seitz filter or filter candles. The filtrate was tested for toxicity
in rabbits and mice. If the filtrate proved toxic to rabbits and mice, 0.9 ml. of
the filtrate was mixed with 0.3 ml. of the antitoxic sera of Cl. welchii types A, B,
C and D, incubated at 37°C for 45 minutes and inoculated into rabbits intradermally
and into mice intravenously. In the case of Cl. welchii type D, neutralization
was noticed only in mixtures of the toxin with type B and type D antitoxic sera.
RESULTS
Eight strains of Cl. welchii type D were isolated from different outbreaks amongst
sheep in different parts of the country and the detailed history of each case has
been furnished (Table I).
Morphology
All the strains isolated were short and stumpy with parallel sides and some-
what rounded ends. They were approximately 2 to 3 microns in length. The
organisms were Gram-positive and were usually intensely stained. All were non-
motile and did not sporulate when grown in ordinary media but sporulated well
when grown in alkaline egg medium. Though in culture the organisms were non-
capsulated, a well-defined and fairly large capsule could be demonstrated in smears
made from lesions in guinea pigs and pigeons when stained by Moller's [1951] modi-
fication of the Hiss method of capsule staining.
Cultural characters
On blood agar plates two types of colonies were observed, viz. (i) small round
colonies, low convex, faintly greyish, almost translucent and approximately 1 to
2 mm. in diameter and (ii) fairly large, flat or umbonate colonies with somewhat
lobate margin and greyish white in colour and 3 to 4 mm. in diameter. All the
strains produced beta type of haemolysis on blood agar plates after 24 hours of
incubation.
200
CLOSTRIDIUM WELCHII TYPE D INFECTION IN SHEEP [Vol. XXVIII, Pt. IV,
Biochemical reactions
All the strains produced stormy fermentation in litmus milk. They liquefied
gelatin in 24 hours and fermented glucose, lactose, maltose and sucrose but not
mannite or salicin. For carrying out sugar fermentation tests the method des-
cribed by Nilakantan [1954] was adopted.
Pathogenicity
All the strains produced typical gas gangrene and death when inoculated in-
tramuscularly into guinea pigs, mice or pigeons. Toxic filtrate of the cultures on
inoculation intradermally in rabbits produced necrosis within 24 to 48 hours at the
site of inoculation. Mice, on inoculation intravenously died within a few minutes
to 12 hours, showing convulsive symptoms and paralysis. The toxic property
was neutralized by Cl. welchii type B and type D antitoxic sera.
In Table I are given the details of the history and origin of the various strains
of Cl. welchii type D which were isolated and studied.
TABLE I
Showing the history and origin of the various strains of Cl. welchii type D
Serial
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Specimen
No.
137a
217
266
321
333
355
356
1/55-56
Source
D. I. O. ( Sheep
and Goats),
Madras
D.I.O., Bihar
D. I. O. (Sheep
and Goats),
Madras
A. D. I. O.
(Sheep and
Goats), U.P.
Do.
A. R.
O.
(Anaerobes)
I. V. R. I.
Do.
D.I.O. (Sheep
and Goats),
Madras
Type of
material
received
Intestinal
contents
Peritoneal
fluid
Intestinal
contents and
pieces of in-
testines
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Date of
isolation
October, 1952
January, 1953
November,
1953
September,
1954
Do.
December,
1954
Do.
April, 1955
History
From a case of sudden death
of sheep in Govt, sheep
farm, Ooty. A few deaths
had been reported
An outbreak of dysentery
followed by deaths in
about 12 sheep in a no-
madic flock
From a case of sheep sus-
pected to have died of
enterotoxaemia
Do.
Do.
History of outbreak given
in the text
Do.
From a case of sheep
suspected to have died of
enterotoxaemia
December, 1958] P. B. NILAKANTAN AND B. K. KATHURIA 201
FIG. 1
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
FIG. 4
FIG. 5
FIG. 1. Peritoneal surface of diaphragm showing haemorrhagic patches from a natural case of
enterotoxaemia in sheep.
FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5. Sheep, after inoculation with filtrate of intestinal content from a case of
enterotoxaemia, showing progressive symptoms of the disease, ending in death.
202 CLOSTRIDIUM WELCHII TYPE D INFECTION IN SHEEP [Vol. XXVIII, Pt. IV,
INVESTIGATION INTO AN OUTBREAK OF ENTEROTOXAEMIA (" CIRCLING DISEAS
IN MADRAS STATE
Field investigation into a disease condition known as ' circling disease ' in
sheep in the Madras State was carried out by one of us (P. R. N.) in November and
December, 1954. At the time of visit the disease was prevalent in one of the dis-
tricts, namely, Tirunelvelli. The investigation was carried out in collaboration
with Shri T. Ananthapadmanabhan, the then Disease Investigation Officer, Sheep
and Goats, Madras State and Shri P. S. Narayana Iyer, the then District Veterinary
Officer, Tirunelvelli. Outbreaks of the disease had been occurring in the district
since 1950-51 and the disease was known locally as " Thullu Novu " (literally meaning
jumping sickness, as the affected animals often jumped once or twice, fell down
and died). Data as regards the incidence of the disease revealed the serious nature
of the disease and the loss it caused to the shepherds is given in Table II.
TABLE II
Showing the incidence of " circling disease " in the district of Tirunelvelli in Madras
State
Period
1950-51 (Nov. to Jan.). . . . . . . .
1952-53 (Oct. to Jan.) . . . . . . . .
1954-55 (Nov. to Jan.) . . . . . . . .
Number of
attacks
776
492
500
Number of
deaths
774
492
500
Nearly 42 villages in the district were involved. The disease usually occurred
soon after rains and the shepherds believed that the disease was due to
sheep grazing the tender grass growing soon after rains. Chemical examination
of the stomach contents from a number of cases proved negative for the presence of
any vegetable poison. Enquiry made from sheep owners revealed the following
facts :—
(i) Only the best of the animals succumbed to the disease.
(ii) The age of the affected animals varied from 3 to 18 months.
In the affected villages, on an average 15 per cent of the total number of sheep
got the disease and in the affected animals the mortality was almost 100 per cent.
Only sheep were affected, but not goats which were also kept in close association
with sheep. In most cases animals died suddenly without showing any apparent
symptoms. In a few instances, however, it was possible to see the following symp-
toms : the affected animals moved out of the flock, went round and round twice
or thrice, jumped and fell down and died either immediately or lay in a comatose
condition for a few hours and died.
A few cases were available for postmortem examination. Generalized or patchy
congestion of the intestinal mucosa and haemorrhagic spots on the peritoneal surface
of the diaphragm were the chief lesions observed (fig. 1). In a few cases haemorrhagic
spots were noticed in the endocardium. Except for slight congestion of the organs
like liver, spleen, kidneys and lungs no abnormality was noticed in any of the
internal organs.
December, 1958] P. B. NILAKANTAN AND B. K. KATHURIA 203
Filtrate of intestinal contents from one of the cases proved toxic to rabbits.
The toxicity of the filtrate was neutralized by Cl. welchii type B and type D anti-
toxic sera. Cl. welchii type D was also isolated from this as well as from another
case in the outbreak.
Five ml. of filtrate of intestinal contents of the above-mentioned case was in-
oculated intravenously into a young sheep of about 8 months of age. Within 15
minutes of inoculation the sheep had slight respiratory distress with uneasy
movements of the head and limbs (Fig. 2). The respiratory distress increased
progressively and within a few minutes the animal was standing with the front legs
wide apart and breathing heavily with opened mouth (Fig. 3). Thick viscid saliva
dribbled from the mouth. The animal was unable to move, but when forced to do
so, showed inco-ordination of movement. Later, the animal became comatose
and remained lying in this condition. However, heavy breathing with opened mouth
continued (Fig. 4). The animal died within 35 minutes of the injection of the
filtrate (Fig. 5). Postmortem showed general congestion of the internal organs and
the lungs showed petechae on the surface.
SUMMARY
Isolation of eight strains of Cl. welchii type D from cases of sheep suspected to
have died of enterotoxaemia is recorded.
A detailed study has been made of Cl. welchii isolated from these cases. The
toxins liberated by these cultures were identified by carrying out neutralization
tests in rabbits and mice, using standard antitoxic sera obtained from Messrs
Burroughs Wellcome and Company of England.
Cl. welchii type D was found to be responsible for an outbreak reported as cir-
cling disease in one of the districts of Madras State.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are grateful to the Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
for providing facilities to carry out the work ; to the Director, Animal Husbandry
Department, Madras State, for permission to carry out field investigation in the
State ; to Shri M. R. Dhanda, Head of Division of Pathology and Bacteriology,
Indian Veterinary Research Institute, for his guidance and encouragement in the
work and for his help in the preparation of the paper. They are also thankful to
Shri T. Ananthapadmanabhan, the then Disease Investigation Officer (Sheep and
Goats), Madras State and Shri P. S. Narayana Iyer, District Veterinary Officer,
Tirunelvelli District, for their help in the field investigation. The work was carried
out under a scheme financed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
REFERENCES
Bennetts, H. W. (1932). Bull. No. 57, Council of Sci. and industr. Res., Commonwealth of Australia
Chatupale, W. V. (1948). Ann. Rep. A. D. I. O. (Sheep and Goats), Baroda State
Dalling, T., and Ross, H. E. (1938). J. Comp. Path. Therap. 51, 235
Gill, D. A. (1927). Cited by Newsom I. E. (1952) Sheep diseases (The Williams and Wilkins Co.,
Baltimore)
Montgomeric, R. P. and Rowlands, W. T. (1934). Vet. J., 90, 399
Moller, O. (1951). Acta Path. et. microbiol. Scand., 28, 127
Nilakantan, P. R. (1954). Studies on blackquarter (thesis submitted to the University of Madras)
CONTAGIOUS PUSTULAR DERMATITIS IN GOATS
By RADHEY MOHAN SHARMA and HARI MOHAN BHATIA, Punjab College of Veterinary
Science and Animal Husbandry, Hissar
[ Received for publication on November 16, 1957
Accepted for publication on July 22, 1958]
C ONTAGIOUS pustular dermatitis or contagious ecthyma in sheep and goats
has been reported by many workers from various parts of the world. The
disease was first recorded by Glover in the year 1928 in Great Britain, who reported
that it was caused by a filtrable virus. The filtrate of the scrapings from the lesions
and dried crusts was rich in the virus. He further added that the virus was highly
resistant and may be preserved in scabs for a very long period. Rottgardt and
Pirazzi [1951] found that the scabs from infected animals, desiccated over sulphuric
acid, retained their infective power for more than 14 years. The virus of contagious
pustular dermatitis is related to the virus of goat-pox. Bennett et al. [1944] studied
the immunological relationship of this virus with other pox viruses. They reported
that there was no relationship between this virus and the virus of vaccinia. The
goat-pox virus, on the other hand, conferred solid immunity against contagious
pustular dermatitis, but the latter failed to confer immunity against goat-pox.
Serologically, also, there appears to be no relationship between this virus and the
vaccinia virus. Macdonald [1951] mentioned that with the complement fixation
reaction, there was no evidence of serological relationship between the virus of
C. P. D. and vaccinia. Horgan and Haseeb [1947] studied the immunological
relationship of various strains of C. P. D. virus. They obtained from Cyprus material
from two sheep and one goat affected with the disease. The scabs when applied to
the scarified skin of Sudanese sheep produced typical vesiculopustular reaction.
Cross immunity tests showed that the three strains were closely related. Reciprocal
cross immunity experiments conducted with two strains received from England
showed that all the viruses were immunologically identical. Sheep and goats
under the age of four months are usually affected. Olah and Elek [1953] reported
that in Hungary 74 per cent of the affected sheep were under the age of four months
and 37 per cent under four weeks. Topley and Wilson [1955] mentioned that sheep
of any age might be attacked, but the disease was commonest in weaned lambs
up to one year old. They added that the recovered animals possessed a high degree
of immunity which lasted for at least eight months.
The disease may be communicated to human beings from sheep and goats.
Carne et al. [1946] reported the occurrence of this disease of sheep in Australia as
responsible for infection in human beings and described it as an industrial hazard
to shearers. Lloyd et al., [1951] described a case of natural transmission of the
virus of ovine contagious pustular dermatitis to man. They confirmed the diagnosis
205
78 AR/58
7
December, 1958] R. M. SHARMA AND H. M. BHATIA 207
TABLE I
Observations on cross-immunity test on female kids vaccinated with goat-pox vaccine against contagious
pustular dermatitis on September 4, 1953
Description of animal
Female Kid No. 736
„ 737
„ 755
„ 756
Male Kid (G)—Control
Injected with
C. V. P. Der-
matitis virus
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Temperature (in degrees Farenheit)
5-9-53
101.2
101.4
102.0
102.9
101.4
6-9-53
101.8
101.5
102.0
102.8
101.8
7-9-53
102.0
102.4
101.7
102.0
101.8
8-9-53
102.8
102.4
102.8
102.4
102.4
9-9-53
101.8
102.0
101.8
101.7
102.8
10-9-53
101.9
102.1
101.9
101.8
103.2
11-9-53
101.7
101.9
101.7
101.5
104.0
12-9-53
101.9
102.0
101.6
101.8
102.8
13-9-53
101.9
101.8
101.8
101.7
102.4
14-9-53
101.4
102.4
101.7
101.4
102.0
15-9-53
101.4
101.6
101.4
101.2
102.0
16-9-53
101.5
101.6
101.4
101.4
102.0
Remarks
No local or ther-
mal reaction
Do.
Do.
Do.
Local and ther-
mal reaction
TABLE II
Observations on cross-immunity test on animals recovered from contagious pustulardermatitis
againstgoat-pox virus
(Date of inoculation : September 15, 1953)
Description of
animal
Female kid—
No. 733
No. 734
No. 744
No. 760
Male kid (G)—
Control.
Virus
Temperature (in degrees Farenheit)
16-9-53 17-9-53 18-9-53 19-9-53 20-9-53 21-9-53 22-9-53 23-9-53 24-9-53 25-9-53 26-9-53 27-9-53 28-9-53 29-9-53 30-9-53
Goat pox
virus from
I.V.R.I. Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
100.4
101.5
100.0
100.8
100.4
101.5
103.2
101.0
102.4
100.8
101.2
103.3
101.0
102.0
102.4
101.3
103.0
101.1
102.0
103.0
102.0
103.4
101.1
102.0
103.6
102.2
103.0
103.8
102.0
103.0
102.3
102.4
102.0
102.4
102.6
102.3
103.2
102.8
102.6
102.4
102.0
102.8
102.6
102.4
102.0
102.0
104.0
102.4
102.4
102.0
101.8
103.2
102.0
102.0
102.0
102.0
103.0
102.0
102.0
101.8
101.6
102.0
101.7
101.8
102.0
101.6
101.8
101.2
101.4
101.4
101.6
101.6
101.2
101.3
101.5
208
CONTAGIOUS PUST ULAR DERMATITIS IN GOATS [Vol. XXVIII, Pt. IV,
TABLE III
Observations on cross serum.virus neutralisation test between goat.pox and contagious pustular dermatitis
Description of animal
Female Kid No. 14
„
983
„ 970
„ 992
Inoculated with
Goat-pox virus
C. P. D. virus
Dermatitis virus
plus
goat-pox
serum
Goat-pox
virus
plus dermatitis
serum
Temperature (in degrees Farenheit)
6-1-54
99.0
99.2
99.0
100.4
7-1-54
99.0
99.0
99.4
100.0
8-1-54
99.0
99.0
99.0
100.4
9-1-54
99.4
100.0
100.0
100.8
10-1-54
99.4
100.0
100.2
101.4
11-1-54
100.4
102.0
100.2
103.0
12-1-54
101.4
102.4
100.6
103.0
13-1-54
102.4
102.0
100.0
103.6
14-1-54
102.6
101.4
100.0
103.0
15-1-54
103.2
101.4
100.6
102.6
16-1-54
101.8
99.8
100.2
102.0
Local reaction
observed
10 -1 ++++
10 -2 ++++
10 -3 +++
10 -4 ++
10 -1 ++++
10 -2 ++++
10 -3 +++
10 -4 ++
10 -1 +
10 -2 +
10 -3 —
10 -4 —
10 -1 ++++
10 -2 +++
10 -3 ++
10 -4 +
December, 1958] R. M. SHARMA AND H. M. BHATIA 209
Scabs and swabs collected from affected cases were also sent to the Head of the
Division of Pathology and Bacteriology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Mukteswar for cross immunity test against pock infection. Results received
indicated that the material proved negative for pock infection when tested in goats.
(b) Cross immunity test
(i) Four kids (No. 736, 737, 755 and 756) out of those vaccinated with goat-pox
vaccine were challenged with contagious pustular dermatitis virus about five weeks
after vaccination. A healthy kid was similarly inoculated to act as a control.
These animals were kept under observation for 12 days and their morning tempera-
ture recorded daily. Observations recorded (Table I) showed that the vaccinated
kids did not show any local or thermal reaction indicating thereby that they were
immune. The control kid, however, developed local as well as thermal reaction.
This experiment showed that the goat-pox vaccine conferred immunity against
contagious pustular dermatitis.
(ii) Four kids (No. 733, 734, 744 and 760) that suffered from natural attack of
contagious pustular dermatitis were challenged with virulent goat-pox virus obtained
from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar. A healthy kid was
similarly inoculated by the scarification method to act as control. The animals
were kept under observation for 15 days following inoculation. Observations
recorded (Table. II) showed that all the kids developed local and thermal reaction.
Local lesions were visible on the sixth day after goat-pox virus inoculation.
This experiment, therefore, indicated that an attack of contagious pustular der-
matitis did not confer any protection against goat-pox.
(c) Serum-virus neutralisation test
Serum-virus neutralisation tests were carried out in kids to determine the
relationship between goat-pox virus and the virus of contagious pustular dermatitis.
Observations recorded (Table III) showed that goat-pox serum served to neutralise
the virus of contagious pustular dermatitis, while the dermatitis serum failed to
neutralise the virus of goat-pox.
The results recorded above show that goat-pox virus confers protection against
contagious pustular dermatitis, but the virus of contagious pustular dermatitis does
not seem to protect against goat-pox. These findings are in conformity with
those recorded by Bennett and his co-workers (1944).
Control of the disease and treatment
The disease was controlled by segregating affected animals in a separate en
closure away from the healthy animals. Separate attendants were provided to
look after the affected kids. The healthy kids were vaccinated with goat-pox
vaccine obtained from the Mysore Serum Institute, Bangalore. The lesions of the
sick animals were dressed with carbolic oil followed by dusting powder consisting
of equal parts of boric acid and zinc oxide.
78 AR/58
8
210 CONTAGIOUS PUSTULAR DERMATITIS IN GOATS [Vol. XXVIII,Pt. IV,
SUMMARY
1. Two outbreaks of contagious pustular dermatitis amongst Betal goats and
kids are recorded.
2. The disease could be successfully transmitted to healthy kids, lambs and to
one out of two calves used.
3. Serum-virus neutralisation tests showed that goat-pox serum neutralised
the virus of contagious pustular dermatitis, but the dermatitis serum failed to
neutralise goat-pox virus. These results were confirmed by cross-immunity tests
in kids.
4. The disease was not noticed in human beings attending on affected animals.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are indebted to Shri P. N. Nanda, Principal, Punjab College of
Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Hissar, for valuable suggestions in the
writing of this paper. Thanks are also due to Shri M. R. Dhanda, Head of the
Pathology and Bacteriology Division, Indian Veterinary Research Institute,
Mukteswar, for examination of material sent to him.
REFERENCES.
Bennett, Hagan and Haseeb. (1944). J. Comp. Path., 54, 131
Carne, H. R., Wickham, N., Whitten, W. K. and Lockley, R. P. (1946). Aust. J. Sci. 9, 73-74
Glover, R. E. (1928). J. Comp. Path., 41, 318
Horgan, E. S., and Haseeb, M. A. (1947). J. Comp. Path., 57, 1-7
Lloyd, G. M., Macdonald, A., and Glover, R. E. (1951). Lancet. 260, 720-721
Macdonald, A. (1951). J. Path. & Bact., 63, 758-761
Marrone, P. (1948). Abstr. vet. Bull., 20 (9), 586
Olah, P. and Elek, P. (1953). Abstr. vet. Bull, 23 (8), 366
Pask, V. M., Mackerras, I. M., Sutherland, A. K. and Simmons, G. C. (1951). Med. J. Aust., Nov. 10th,
628-632
Rottgardt, A. A. and Garcia Pirazzi, A. J. (1951). Abstr. vet. Bull., 23 (4), 147
Selbie, F. R. (1944). J. Comp. Path. (54), 161-167
Sharma, R. M. 1953-54 and 1955-56. Ann. rep. A. D. I. O. (S. and G.), Punjab
Topley and Wilson (1955). Principles of Bacteriology and Immunity, 4th Ed. (2), 2126-27
GENETIC CORRELATIONS IN AUSTRALIAN MERINO
SHEEP
CORRELATIONS AMONGST BODY LENGTH, WIDTH, DEPTH, FORE
CANNON LENGTH, MUTTON SCORE, SKIN FOLD SCORE
AND BODY WEIGHTS AT 5 AND 11 MONTHS
By G. C. TANEJA,* N. S.W. University of Technology, Sydney
[ Received for publication on January 25, 1958
Accepted for publication on June 18, 1958
T HE Australian Merino is primarily a wool producing sheep. Investigation of
factors affecting meat production in this breed seems desirable, because of the
possibility of the development of artificial fibres lowering the relative importance
of wool, and because the Merino, as a maintenance breed in the stratification of the
Australian sheep industry, is an important contributor to the fat lamb industry
[Nichols, 1945].
It was therefore decided to investigate certain aspects of mutton quality in
Merinos, and as body weight and body dimensions are clearly important characters
in this connection, they were also studied [Taneja, 1955c]. Attention was also given
to skin folds as they may be undesirable from the point of view of both mutton and
wool production [Belschner, 1937 ; Carter, 1941].
Causes of variation in body weights of Merino sheep have been recorded [Taneja,
1955 b]. The relative importance of heredity and environment in body weight
increments at different ages in this breed has also been reported (Taneja, 1955 a).
Mean values, variances and estimates of repeatability of measurements of body
length, depth, width, fore cannon length, fold score and mutton score have been
published [Taneja, 1955 c]. Recently the heritability of these characters has also
been reported [Taneja, 1958]. In order to complete the study, the genetic cor-
relations amongst the pairs of characters studied are presented in this paper.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The flock of Peppin Merino sheep in which the observed animals were born
has been previously described in detail [Taneja, 1955 a, b, c]. The flock consists
of three main divisions; a registered herd, an experimental flock and others. It
is closely controlled and the recorded flock maintained under the local pastoral
conditions at Trangie, N. S. W., Australia. The measured animals comprised 284
*Present address : M. P. Veterinary College, Mhow.
211
78 AR/58
9