2
ENZOOTIC BOVINE PARAPLEGIA
[Vol. XXVI, Part I,
opinion the lesions of the paraplegic goat were not those of viral or bacterial ence-
phalomyelitis but simulated the histopathological picture of proved cases of cere-
brospinal nematodiasis, except that the nematode was not found. Shoho [1954] has
reported that Pillai and Innes (unpublished work) recently have found malacic lesions
associated with the nematode in the spinal cord of an equine paralytic case (Kumri)
in Ceylon. Shoho [1952], Pillai and Perara [1953] have found Caricide (1-Diethyl
carbamyl-4-Methyl piperazine citrate), a filaricidal drug, effective in cases of cere-
brospinal nematodiasis of domestic animals.
Bush [1951] is of the view that mineral deficiencies play a very decisive role in
producing paraplegia in animals, especially sub-normal or low serum phosphorus
levels, and treatment with calcium, phosphorus and magnesium is said to have
proved successful in curing more than 100 out of 244 cases of paraplegia in goats
and sheep treated by him in Japan. His experiments to produce lumbar paralysis
in sheep and goats with microfilaria of Setaria digitata are reported to have yielded
negative results, when factors like mineral deficiencies were eliminated. In his
opinion, therefore, lumbar paralysis in sheep, goats, cattle and horses may correctly
be termed as nutritional paresis. Neelakanta Iyer and Seetharaman [1953] reported
complete cure in five out of six cases of bovine paraplegia which they treated in
South Kanara District with magnesium sulphate and calcium borogluconate. They
are of the view that combined calcium and magnesium deficiency resulting in para-
plegic symptoms in a large number of animals at one time in certain areas, might
easily be mistaken for an outbreak of some infectious diseases. They contend
that the onset of paraplegia might occur after the passing of minimal critical
magnesium and calcium levels in the blood and in the ailing animals, magnesium
and calcium content of blood might be within the normal range. Russell [1944]
quoted Tufts and Greenberg's findings [1937-38] that symptoms of magnesium
deficiency did not appear when serum magnesium was minimal. Green [1939] and
Duckworth and Godden [1941] believed that the condition might be due to distur-
bance in endocrine mechanism concerned with the maintenance of serum magne-
sium level. McG Black [1954] reported that magnesium deficiency alone produced
paralytic symptoms, coma and death in cattle.
BOVINE PARAPLEGIA IN MYSORE STATE
An obscure disease among cattle characterised by paraplegic or complete
paralytic symptoms is prevalent in parts of Hosnagar, Sagar and Sorab taluks of
Shimoga district of Mysore State and in areas bordering south and north Kanara
districts of Madras and Bombay States respectively. Bovine paralysis in south
Kanara district, Madras State with identical symptoms and course was reported
by Viswanathan [1946], Sastry [1948] and Ramakrishnan and Ananthapadmana-
bhan [1953] from Madras and a similar disease termed as " undiagnosed disease "
among cattle and buffaloes of north Kanara district was reported by Kulkarni
[1952] from Bombay State.
Enzootic bovine paraplegia, as observed and investigated in some Malnad
tracts of Mysore State, appears to be regional in its distribution and seasonal in inci-
dence. A marked increase in the number of outbreaks is generally observed during
and after the monsoon rains from June to October. The endemic area of this obscure