The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-22
LIFE OF CATTLE TICK,
PESTS TRANSMIT PROTOZOA
WHICH CAUSE TEXAS
FEVER.
Parasites Are Greatest Barrier to
Successful Cattle Raising In In
tested Territory.

utter the cattle tick in the 20 coun-
ties In South Caroline still infested
With the pest and consequently below
the quarantine line. The cattle tick
is admittedly the greatest obstacle In
tho way OF the development of the
cattle raising industry In South Caro-
lima. w. X. Lewis OF the bureau of
animal industry will marshal the
forces OF Clemson college and the
federal department OF agriculture in
the war which Is to begin soon against
the tick. The general assembly o.
South Carolina appropriated $40. 900
FOR tick eradication work which will
be supplemented by funds from the
federal department.
The tick which Is making all this
trouble is a parasite which transmits
the germ, causing Texas fever into
the blood OF cattle In precisely the
same manner as the malarial pias-
modia are transmitted into the human
eircuiatory system by anopholes mos
anitoes. Like malarial plasmodia, the
Texas fever germs are protozoa, the
lowest form Of uni-cellular animals.
The protozoa which cause Texas fever
are called piroplasma bigeminum.
They invade the red cells In the blood
of cattle. causing them to deteriorate
and finally break up. The uccossive
stages OF the development OF the
protozoa In the blood cells are very
much like those Of the maiarial plas-
modia.
The fully developed and fertilized
female. being engorged with blood
and ready to lay her eggs. loosens her
hold on the bovine animal and drops
to tho ground. Upon reaching the
ground she may lie quietly for several
days before depositing her eggs.
which may consume from four to
eight days in summer and two weeks
or even longer in the fall. The num-
her OF eggs laid by a fully developed
female varies from 1900 to 5000.
while tho immature females also lay
eggs. but In much smaller numbers.
After laying Is finished the female Is
small and shriveled up and. having
fulfilled her mission. soon dies. The
eggs. which are light brown and waxy
In appearance. proceed to develop the
larvae. or seed ticks. the time re-
quired for which varies from 13 days
To six weeks, depending on the con-
ditions OF temperature. moisture, SOIL
etc. These eggs. however. are very
tenacious of life. and under unfavor-
able conditions may remain dormant
for several months. especially In the
early spring.
The larvae. or seed ticks. are min ute
six-iegged parasites of a brownish
waxy color. and about 1-32 Of an
inch In size. They crawl quite ac-
lively about on tho ground and among
leaves. punching In large numbers
upon grass blades. shrubs. weeds and
fehce posts. to await an opportunity
for attachment to their passing host.
The parasitism is so perfect that In
case no cattle or horses are present
no further development occurs. and
death finally results. II Is known.
however. that these iarval forms can
live for threo or four months on the
ground In warm weather Independent
OF their host. and from late Septem-
Der until April during an open win
ter. When they find cattle. however.
they fasten themselves to .he soft
skin inside tho thighs and TANKS. on
the escutcheon. along the belly and
brisket. around the root OF the tail.
and inside the forelegs They obtain
their nourishment by drawing blood
from tho host. and can cause the
fever at this stage. although 40 small
as scarcely to be detected by the
naked eye.
After being on the animal about
one week tho seed tick casts it's COW
ering (molts) and appears as the
eight-iegged. nymph stage OF the para
site. having added one pair OF legs
posteriorly. During The nymphal
stage the sexual organs develop, and
at the second moltlng. from the
nymphal to the adult stage. the sexual
organs are complete. The male and
female az this stage arc about the
samo size. as the female does not
become very large until after she
becomes fertilized. which occurs about
two weeks after the six-legged seed
tho second molting. After intercourse
with the male the female slowly en-
lorges for six To 20 days In summer
and then rapidly increases I'm size in