584 MICROBIOLOGY OF THE DISEASES OF MAN AND ANIMALS. 



MYCOTIC LYMPHANGITIS.* 

 Saccharomyces farciminosus. * 



The disease caused by this yeast-like fungus has been called Japanese 

 farcy, epizootic lymphangitis, and mycotic lymphangitis. This disease 

 was first recognized in the United States in 1907. It has already been 

 found in Pennsylvania, Iowa, California, and North Dakota. 



Saccharomyces farciminosus produces a slow, chronic, contagious dis- 

 ease of horses and mules. Cattle appear susceptible but rarely show 

 clinical symptoms of infection. 



This Saccharomyces involves especially the superficial lymphatic 

 vessels and glands; but internal organs are occasionally affected. The 

 disease is essentially local; constitutional disturbances being slight. The 

 disease produced is fatal in about 10 to 15 per cent of cases affected but is 

 much more serious than these figures would indicate. Other horses that 

 do not die are rendered useless for service, the sale value being ruined in 

 many cases. 



The lesions produced by this parasite resemble most closely the farcy 

 form of glanders but may be easily distinguished by quite different ulcers. 

 The pus is thick, creamy, and usually yellow, whereas the pus from the 

 farcy buds is clear and viscid. Farcy cases respond to the mallein test; 

 lymphangitis cases do not. 



It seems to have been well established that Saccharomyces farcimino- 

 sus is the direct cause of mycotic lymphangitis at least of one form of it. 



The Saccharomyces grows in the animal tissues and by its presence 

 and products acts as a direct exciting cause of the disease. Entrance is 

 effected through inoculation wounds which may be very superficial and 

 very trivial, most frequently perhaps on the legs, shoulders, and neck. 

 The incubation period varies from a few weeks to several months. 



This Saccharomyces is distributed through lymph vessels, chiefly 

 superficial ones, the nodules appearing first near the point of inoculation. 



The tissue changes produced are infection, inflammation, and suppura- 

 tion of the lymph vessels and glands. At first the lymph vessels enlarge 

 and harden ; then nodules develop under the skin along the course of the 

 vessels. These nodules suppurate and the small abscess cavity fills up 

 with bright red granulation tissue. The entire limb may enlarge very 



* Prepared by M. H. Reynolds. 



