worm nodules in australian cattle. 341 



Protozoa Parasitic in Onchocerca Gibsoni. 

 {See figs. 32 and 34, itt. p.) 



In smears made from the worm-area of a cut nodule one 

 may often encounter isolated spindle-shaped cells which are not 

 infrequently arranged in a rosette-like manner, much as is found 

 in the Herpetomonas or Crithidia, as well as other types. In the 

 examination of serial sections through the worm, these may be 

 found in one or both of the genital tubes. A discussion of their 

 morphology, relationships, and life history is reserved for a future 

 paper. 



For their assistance and courtesy extended in this investiga- 

 tion, we desire to record our thanks to the Inspectors and other 

 officials of the Department of Agriculture in Queensland, especially 

 to Mr. Orr, Chief Inspector of Stock, and to the managers of the 

 various freezing works ; and, in addition, we express our grateful 

 appreciation of the assistance rendered in the preparation of 

 material by Mr. Norman MacDonald, B.V.Sc, Government Re- 

 search Scholar of this Department. 



ADDENDUM. 



Since the above was communicated, two papers bearing on 

 this subject of Onchocerciasis in Cattle, that have just appeared 

 in European publications, have been received by us. 



The first of these, "Un Nouveau Nematode Parasite du 

 Boeuf," by Professor Neumann, of Toulouse {Revue Veterinaire, 

 May, 1910), is of especial interest, dealing as it does with a con- 

 dition in cattle in Algeria and Tunis, in some respects closely com- 

 parable with that Jierein described, and caused by an allied though 

 quite distinct nematode hitherto unknown, viz.. Onchocerca guttii- 

 rosa, Neumann, 1910. The importance of this discovery in cattle 

 in North Africa is considerable from an economic not less than a 

 scientific point of view, as previously to this the " worm nodules '* 

 of Australian cattle have been regarded as unique, all other species 

 of Onchocerca being known only from man in Africa, and such 

 animals as are not under ordinary conditions used for food — e.g., 

 the horse, zebra, buffalo, and camel ; or else from parts of cattle 

 not used as food. Neumann considers it possible that the Austra- 

 lian Onchocerca gibsoni is the same as that of the Algerian form, but 

 such is not by any means the case. The two species — 0. gutturosa 

 and 0. gibsoni — are quite distinct, not only m structure, but also 

 as a rule the position of the nodule, which in the Algerian form is 

 usually on the inner face of the cervical ligament, rarely on the 

 thigh, and apparently never in the sternal region, so that they are 

 not, while thus situated, nearly so objectionable commercially as 

 the nodules formed by 0. gibsoni. 



The second paper, a report to the Local Government Board, 

 London, by Dr. MacFadden and Dr. Leiper (1911), on the Oncho- 

 cerciasis of Australian Cattle, offers little that had not already 

 been published by Messrs. Cleland and Johnston. In reference to 



