NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
STUDIES ON THE MANGE MITES OF LIVESTOCK IN
INDIA
By B. C. BASU, P. BALARAMA MENON and C. M. SEN GUPTA, Indian Veterinary
Research Institute, Izatnagar
(Received for publication on 14 August 1951)
S KIN diseases originate from various causes. In livestock in India the most im-
portant of them is the infestation with various types of mites. This is a serious
problem for the veterinarian as a large number of livestock is infested with none
or more species of mites and effective treatment entails considerable inconvenience.
The disease is known under various names viz., itch, scab, mange, scabies and a
number of local names. About two dozen species or varieties of species are known
to infest domestic animals and among them are some of the most serious pests of
livestock. Pillers [1921] estimated a loss of 102,616 per annum due to mange in
horses in the United Kingdom. To prevent this loss the United Kingdom and Canada
have enforced legislation compelling livestock owners to report cases of mange in
horses and sheep to the authorities for remedy.
Previous literature
Owing to the inaccessibility of literature an annotated review of the works
of twenty-four authors on the subject is given.
Literature on mange reveals that life history of any of the burrowing mites
causing scabies in man and animal has not been thoroughly worked out [Gordon et al
1943]; that work on treatment of various acariasis infection is very meagre and the
stage in their life history when they are infective to healthy hosts is not yet known.
The only available account is by Gordon et al [loc. cit.] who made limited observations
on the life histories of Notoedres in white rats and Sarcoptes scabei in man and found
that they are identical. They further suggested. that the larval and nymphal stages
are infective to healthy animals. Recently, Palimpsestov [1947] did valuable work
on the subject and observed that sarcoptids of both sexes pass through four active
and four passive stages. Mellanby et al [1942] in a series of controlled experiments
proved that temperature had definite effect on the adult of Sarcoptes scabei. He re-
corded the thermal death point for these mites and showed that atmospheric humi-
dity had no effect on it. But Troitzkii [1947] showed that air humidity had a great
effect on the incidence of mange in sheep though air temperature had no effect on it.
Gillain [1942] recorded that Sarcoptes scabei infection of pig could be experimentally
transmitted to man and also recorded its spontaneous cure. Unsworth [1946]
isolated demodectic mange parasite from ten per cent of the apparently healthy dogs.
He failed to transmit demodectic mange infection by direct contact. Varenne
[1946] reported successful transmission of sarcoptic mange from cattle to man.
Imperial Chemical Industries (Veterinary Bulletin, 1950) record easy transmission of
goat mange to man during cold months in Baluchistan.
143
14
June, 1952] B. C. BASU, P. B. MENON AND C. M. SEN GUPTA 145
TABLE I
Incidence of mange at Izatnagar during November 1949 to March 1950
Species
Goat
Sheep
Cow
Buffalo
Horse
Dog
Cat
November 1949
No.
ex-
amined
10
—
25
12
—
4
—
No.
+
1
—
nil
1
—
nil
—
December 1949
No.
ex-
amined
39
12
45
27
10
17
3
No.
+
10
nil
„
1
nil
1
nil
January 1950
No.
ex-
amined
36
21
32
47
10
21
4
No.
+
6
nil
„
„
„
2
nil
February 1950
No.
ex-
amined
16
10
38
26
6
6
—
No.
+
3
nil
„
„
„
1
—
March 1950
No.
ex-
amined
29
9
25
26
6
5
—
No.
+
2
nil
99
„
„
99
—
During the period, out of 130 goats, 52 sheep, 165 cows, 138 buffaloes, 32 horses,
53 dogs and 7 cats examined for mange, 22 goats, 2 buffaloes and 4 dogs were found
positive. The infection in dogs was due to Demodex folliculorum and in the others
Sarcoptes scabei.
Treatment
The standard treatments generally used against acariasis infection have been
briefly stated by Basu [1944]. Recently, many chemicals of promise appeared in
the market and some of them were tried to test their acaricidal properties. DDT,
Derris and Gammexane (D.025—I. C. I.) were tried in this connection. A few
years ago, there was a reference to the beneficial effect of sea water in the treat-
ment of acariasis. Work was conducted to confirm it. Besides, a few other trials
were made with varying percentages of the components of some standard dips.
The chemicals used were in the following concentrations:
1. DDT—in strengths varying from 0.1 per cent to 2.0 per cent.
2. Derris wash
Derries . . .
Soft soap . . .
Water . . .
1 pound.
4 ounces.
1 gallon.
3. Gammexane (D.025—I. C. I.)—Two per cent solution in kerosine oil.
4. Sea water and sodium chloride.
5. Tobacco lime infusion
Tobacco leaves . .
Lime . . .
Water
.
.
.
.
4 pounds.
1 pound.
50 gallons.
The treatment was tried mostly on Sarcoptes mange in goats, Psoroptes mange
in sheep and Demodex mange in dogs.
14A
146
STUDIES ON MANGE MITES OF LIVESTOCK
[Vol. XXII, Part II,
Experiment 1
DDT.—(a) Three goats suffering from mange the causative organism of which
was identified as Sarcoptes scabei var. caprae, were treated with a solution of two
per cent. DDT in kerosine oil. The solution was rubbed thoroughly on the affected
parts with cotton wool. A second application was made after seven days. The
scrapings were examined every week and it was found that mites were present
throughout the period of application. DDT was found unsuitable for treatment of
sarcoptic mange in goats.
(b) An aqueous Suspension of DDT in 0.1 per cent and 0.5 per cent strengths
was tried on sheep suffering from psoroptic mange. The former strength had
practically no effect but the latter was found effective. In sheep dressed with
0.2 per cent DDT and above a slight irritation of the epidermis was noticed. No
other constitutional disturbance was seen in any of them dressed with aqueous
suspension of DDT.
Experiment 2
Derris.—(a) Three goats suffering from sarcoptic mange were treated with a wash
containing Derris (with five per cent rotenone content) one pound, soft soap four
ounces and water one gallon. It was rubbed thoroughly on the affected parts of the
body with cotton wool. The scrapings were examined every week and it was found
that the animals were free from mites for one week. When they reappeared in the
second week, a second application of the insecticide was made which kept them again
free for another week. Derris failed to cure goats suffering from sarcoptic mange.
(b) The above wash at a strength of 1.0 per cent was tried on two sheep suffering
from psoroptic mange and cured one. Incidentally it may be mentioned that the
same wash in 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent strengths proved effective against biting
lice and sheep ked respectively. No harmful effect was noticed in any of the animals
dressed with this derris soap wash.
Experiment 3
Gammexane.—Four goats were treated with a solution of 2 per cent Gammexane
in kerosine oil. The affected parts were thoroughly rubbed with cotton wool.
Scrapings were examined every week for a period of seven weeks. No mites were
detected. Gammexane was found to be an effective drug against sarcoptic mange
in goats. No constitutional disturbance in the treated animals was noticed.
Experiment 4
Sea water and sodium chloride.—Experiments on eight goats suffering from mange
caused by Sarcoptes scabei var. caprae were conducted to test the efficacy of sea
water or its constituent salts in the treatment of mange. Workers from Madras
[Venkatachalam et al., 1943] reported definite beneficial effects on the parenterial
administration of sea water in sarcoptic and follicular mange in dogs. In our series
of experiments, the goats were selected from a flock infected with mange and the
scrapings from their skin were examined to determine the causative organism.
June, 1952J
B. C. BASU, P. B. MENON AND C. M. SEN GUPTA
147
During the experiment the experimental goats were kept in separate sheds away
from the rest of the animals to prevent extraneous contamination and reinfestation.
Four of these received eight injections on alternate days of approximately 40 c.c. per
hundred pounds body weight of sterile sea water which was obtained from the sea at
Madras. The goats were weighed before and after the experiment. The quantity of
sea water administered varied according to the body weight of the animal. Likewise,
another group of four mange goats in two batches received a series of seven and six
injections of a 2.3 per cent solution of sodium chloride in distilled water, i.e., the
strength in which sodium chloride was present in the sea water used. In both the
groups, half the number of animals received the inoculum intravenously and the other
half intraperitoneally. No improvement was noticed in the condition of the animals
treated. All of them died later on due to continued ill health and resulting weakness.
The result of this experiment is tabulated in Table II.
TABLE II
Effect of administration of sea water and sodium chloride on sarcoptic mange.
Group
Sea water group
Sodium chloride
group
Goat
number
26
40
41
64
3
63
60
70
Body
weight
commence-
ment of
experiment
42 lb.
40 „
44 „
26 „
36 lb.
24 „
32 „
18 „
Number
of
injec-
tions
received
8
8
8
8
7
6
7
6
Method
of
injection
intravenous
do.
intra peritoneal
do.
intravenous
do.
intraperitoneal
do.
Quantity
of
inoculum
17.5 c.c.
16.5 c.c.
18.0 c.c.
10.5 c.c.
15.0 c.c.
10.0 c.c.
13.0 c.c.
8.0 c.c.
Body
weight
after
experiment
48 lb.
47 „
40 „
26 „
Result
No improvement.
Scrapings positive
for Sarcoptes.
do.
do.
do.
No improvement.
Scrapings positive
for Sarcoptes.
do.
do.
do.
One dog suffering from follicular mange was given intraperitoneal injection of
15 c.c. of sterile sea water on every alternate day for 12 days with no improvement.
Experiment 5
Tobacco-lime infusion.—A series of experiments both in the laboratory and on a
small scale in the field were conducted to evolve a suitable sheep dip with particular
stress on the use of indegenous products for the control of common ectoparasites
infesting sheep in this country. Sheep used in these trials were infested with mange
mites, Sarcoptes sp. Biting lice (Bovicola ovis), sucking lice (Linognathus sp.) and
sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) were also present. The tobacco-lime infusion
dressing was prepared as under and the quantity of water was increased or decreased
according to the concentration desired.
Tobacco leaves . .
Lime
.
.
.
.
Water .
.
.
.
4 pounds.
1 pound.
50 gallons.
148
STUDIES ON MANGE MITES OF LIVESTOCK
[Vol. XXII, Part II,
Tobacco leaves and lime were soaked in water for 48 hours and the infusion wrung
through a piece of coarse muslin. Nicotine content of the tobacco leaves was es-
timated at 2.3 per cent.
The tobacco-lime infusion at 1.0 per cent strength did not show any effect on
mange mites or sheep ked but proved effective against biting lice. No harmful
effect was noticed in any of the sheep dressed with this infusion.
SUMMARY
Studies on the seasonal incidence and treatment of mange in various domestic
animals have been conducted at Izatnagar and the following observations are
recorded:
Mange infestation is definitely seasonal and is almost restricted to a few months
in the year viz., October to March, as observed at Izatnagar.
During the period November 1949 to March 1950, out of a total number of 130
goats, 52 sheep, 165 cows, 138 buffaloes, 32 horses, 53 dogs and 7 cats examined for
mange, 22 goats 2 buffaloes and 4 dogs were found positive.
Sarcoptes scabei and Demodex folliculorum were the common species of mites
responsible for mange in domestic animals at Izatnagar.
Different strengths of DDT, Gammexane, Derris root powder and tobacco-lime
infusion were tried on Sarcoptic mange in goats and psoroptic mange in sheep. DDT
had no action against sarcoptic mange mites but a 0.5 per cent suspension was found
effective against psoroptic mange. A derris wash was practically ineffective
against Sarcoptis mites but was found successful in Psoroptes (one out of two tried)
The wash in 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent strengths proved effective against biting
lice and sheep ked respectively. A. 2 per cent solution of Gammexane (D.025)
proved to be an effective cure for sarcoptic mange in goats. Tobacco-lime infusion
at 1.0 per cent. strength had no effect on mange mites or sheep ked but was
effective against biting lice.
Intravenous and intraperitoneal injections of sea water and sodium chloride
(2.3 per cent) had no beneficial effect on sarcoptic (8 cases tried) or demodectic
mange (one case tried).
Mange infestation is more or less common in livestock throughout India.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The writers wish to express their grateful thanks to Dr. S. Datta, Director,
Indian Veterinary Research Institute and Dr. H. N. Ray, O.C., S.P., for providing
necessary facilities for this work. They are thankful to Dr. N. D. Kehar, O.C.,
A.N.S., for having the sample of sea water analysed in his laboratory.
REFERENCES
Basu, B. C. (1944). Skin diseases due to mites. Indian Fmg. 5, 4, 182.
Brander, G. C. (1950). Treatment of cattle mange. I.C.I. Vet. Bull.
Braun, W. and Schuermann, H. (1947). Effect of Gesarol (DDT) on the Acarus scabei and on
scabies. I. C. I. Vet. Bull.
June, 1952]
B. C. BASU, P. B. MENON AND C. M. SEN GUPTA
149
Downing, W. (1948). The control of Psoroptic scab on sheep by benzene hexachloride and DDT.
Vet. Rec. 42, 59, 581-2
Draz, O. (1947). The use of Gammexane in the treatment of sarcoptic mange in camels. Vet.
Rec. 39, 59, 548
Florio, R. and Gratecos, M. (1947). Penicillin in demodectic mange. Rev. Med. Vet. 98, 529-3
Fortushnuif, V. A. (1947). Treatment of Psoroptes mange in horses by means of sulphur lime
dust. Veterinariya 24, 1, 9-11
Gillain, J. (1942). Gale du pore a Sarcoptes scabei var. parvula. Bull. agric. Congo Belge, 33,
1-2, 112-13
Gladenko, I. N. (1946). Treatment of Psoroptes mange in cattle by means of sulphur lime dust
Veterinaryiya, 23, 12, 12-14
Gordon, R. M., Unsworth, K., and Seaton, D. R. (1943). The development and transmission of
scabies as studied in rodent infections. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasit. 37, 3-4, 174-94.
Griffiths, R. B. and O'Rourke, P. J. (1949). Successful treatment of scaly leg with gammexane.
Nature, 164, 4158, 65
Kemper, H. E. (1948). Progress report of Benzene hexachloride for the destruction of sheep
scab mites—Ved. Met. 43, 76-79
McCay, C. M., and Udall, R. H. (1949). Phenothiazine in the treatment of demodectic mange.
Connell vet. 39, 1, 73
Mellanby, K., Johnson, C. G., Bartley, W. C. and Brown, P. (1942). Experiments on the survival
and behaviour of the itch mite Sarcoptes scabei Deg. var. hominis. Bull. Ent. Res. 33, 4,
267-71
Palimpsestov, M. A. (1947). Peculiarities in the development of psoroptid mange mites. Ve-
terinariya 24,1, 6-9
Pillers, A. W. Noel (1921). Notes on mange and allied mites for veterinariyans. Bailliere, Tindall,
and Cox, London.
Roy, D. N. and Ghosh, S. N. (1944). On the possibility of using oil of turpentine for the treat-
ment of scabies. Indian ned. Gaz. 79, 12- 589-90
Sen, S. K. (1934). Treatment of follicular mange in dogs. Indian J. vet. Sci. 4,114-23
Taylor, E. L. (1945). Acaricidal property of a new insecticide, Hexachlorobenzene. Nature,
155, 3935, 393-94
Tretyakova, O. N. (1947). Treatment of Psoroptes mange in horses with powder from a fused
mixture of sulphur and naphthalene. Veterinaryiya, 24, 4, 7-8
Troitzkii, I. A. (1947). Effect of humidity on the course of mange in sheep. Veterinariya, 24,
4, 10-13
Unsworth, K. (1946). Studies on the clinical and parasitological aspects of canine demodectic
mange. J. Comp. Path. 56, 2, 114-27
Varenne, H. (1946). Sarcoptic mange in cattle. Rec. Med. Vet. 122, 115-24. Quoted by I. C. I.,
Veterinary Bulletin, January 1949
Venkatachalam, K., Ratnagiriswamy, A. N., Subramania Sastry, M. R., Ramaswamy R. Velayud-
han Nair, C. K. (1943). On the parenteral administration of sea water in the treatment of
canine mange, sarcoptic and follicular. Indian J. vet. Sci. 13, 3, 244-46
THE PHARMACOLOGY OF GIGANTIN*
By V. RATHNASABAPATHY, B.V.SC., and V. ISWARIAH, B.A., M.B.B.S., M.R.C.P.
(Received for publication on 17 April 1951)
(With Plates VI—X)
T HE crystalline active principle, 'Gigantin' first isolated and so named by
Pitchandi [Pitchandi, 1948], is obtained from the latex, commonly known as
madar juice, of Calotropis gigantea. All parts of the plant, the leaves, bark, flowers
and root are used in the indigenous system of medicine as antispasmodic, alterative
and nervine tonic [Watt, 1893]. The milk is used as a counter irritant and also
in criminal poisoning for suicide or for producing abortion. The constitution of the
active principle was studied by Pitchandi who assigned to it the following formula
C 24 'H 36 O 9 as the tentative molecular formula.
A preliminary report on the pharmacology of gigantin had been made by the
present authors [Rathnasabhapathy, Lakshman Rao, Krishnaswamy, David,
Ishwariah; 1949 and 1951]. who obtained some evidence that its action on the cir-
culation was one of stimulation due to a direct action on the musculature of the
heart and blood vessels, similar to digitalis. Arrhythmic hearts became regular
and failing hearts were found to revive under the drug and this led the authors to
undertake the present work in the hope that the drug might be a very valuable and
cheap substitute to digitalis if not better.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Gigantin used in these experiments was prepared by the Chemist in this labora-
tory according to the method described by Pitchandi [1948] and made available in
sufficient quantities. As it is insoluble in water, alcoholic solutions were made use
of 1:1000 solution was made in absolute alcohol and further dilutions were made
with normal saline as and when needed.
Acute and chronic toxicity following intravenous administration was studied
in dogs weighing 2 to 4 kg.
Dogs, cats, kittens, rabbits, and sheep were employed as experimental animals
in this investigation. Effects on circulation and respiration were studied on dogs
anaesthetised with 2.2 c.c.per kg. of paraldehyde orally and cats under intramuscular
chloralose anaesthesia, 110 mg. per kg. dissolved in hot alcohol. Blood pressure
was recorded on a kymograph after carotid cannulation and the recording of res-
piration was accomplished with the use of a tracheal cannula connected to a Marey
tambour as usual.
*Published from the Research Unit on Indigenous Drugs, Department of Pharmacology,
Madras Medical College, Madras.
151
15
152
THE
PHARMACOLOGY
OF
GIGANTIN
[Vol. XXII, Part II,
Perfusion of mammalian hearts and experiments with isolated bits of plain
muscles as uterus and sheep's carotid artery were done in an improved type of
apparatus, invented by Vareed and Venkatachalam [1943] which are in use in this
laboratory for over ten years giving very satisfactory results. The heart perfusion
apparatus consists of a double walled flask of two litres capacity and a double sur-
faced condenser about 90 centi-meters long. The heart cannula is fixed to the lower
end of the condenser. Water at constant temperature is carried through the double
surfaced condenser and the double walled flask. A thermometer inserted into the
heart cannula registers the temperature of the perfusion fluid. Injections of drugs
are usually made into the bulb of the heart cannula which has got a capacity of about
10 c.c. Drugs injected into the heart cannula are thus diluted ten times in the
bulb.
The apparatus for perfusing isolated uterus, intestines, etc., consists of a jacketed
cylindrical bath of 100 c.c. capacity with three-way stop cock at the bottom and a
jacketed two litres flask, connected together. Water at constant temperature is
run through the outer jackets. Drugs when added into the bath are diluted 100
times.
Perfusion of kidney was done in the Dixtion's apparatus.
Experimental data
Toxicity. A precised L.D. 50 was not worked out. But it was found that a
intravenous dose of 0.3 mg. per kg. was invariably fatal to majority of the dogs
in 15 to 30 minutes. The toxic symptoms may be divided for convenience into
three groups. In lethal doses there was frequent emesis of biletinged frothy fluid,
distressed look, great exhaustion and death in about 15 to 20 minutes. The heart
beat was highly accelerated with indistinct sounds resulting in fibrillation and cardiac
failure. Pulse and respiration were accelerated throughout but respiration was
dyspnoeic and oral.
On post mortem the liver was highly congested, enlarged and friable. The
cortex of the kidney was slightly congested. There was nothing abnormal in other
organs. All the tissues were subjected to histopathological examination. Except
the liver and kidneys, all the other tissues were normal. In the liver there was
widening sinusoidal spaces, the branches of the portal veins were engorged. But
there was no definite change in the liver parenchyma. The blood vessels in the
cortex of the kidney were engorged and the glomerular tufts were congested. Tubu-
lar epethelia showed clowdy degeneration.
In doses that are toxic, but not lethal, there was frequent emesis of bile-tinged
frothy fluid, dyspnoea, distressed look, brady-cardia, weak pulse and accelerated
respiration. But gradual recovery took place in an hour. In physiological doses,
i.e., 0.05 mg. per kg., there were no apparent changes in the rate of respiration
and heart beat; but the beats were more powerful, pulse full and strong.
[Indian J. vet. Sci. Vol. XXII Part II
PLATE VI
A record of the carotid blood-pressure, respiration and spleen volume of a dog of 2.4 kg.,
under paraldehyde anaesthesia. Note the persistent rise in the B. P. and the correspond-
ing decrease in the spleen volume, after an injection of 0.25 mg. of gigantin. There is no
change in respiration. S.V.—Spleen volume. Resp-respiration B.P.—Blood pressure.
Time—6 seconds.
PLATE VII
[Indian
J.
vet.
Sci.
Vol.
XXII,
part
II]
A record of the carotid blood-pressure, intestinal movements and kidney volume of a dog of 4 kg., under paraldehyde
anaesthesia. Note the rise of blood pressure and the corresponding decrease in the volume of kidney after 1 mg. of
gigantin intravenously. There is no change in the intestinal movements. Time—6 seconds. K.V.—Kidney volumes.
I. M.—Intestinal movements. B.P.—Blood pressure.