308 SOME MINUTE ANIMAL PARASITES 



same parasite kills also the large native semi-aquatic 

 rodent known as the capybara. Dogs eat the capy- 

 bara and become infected thereby. It is suggested 

 that fleas contract infection from the dogs, and pass 

 from the dogs to the horse. It has been established 

 that infected dog-fleas can pass on the disease to 

 rats and to other dogs, and it is possible that they 

 can do the same to horses. Stomoxys also has 

 been suspected, but not proved, to transmit the 

 parasite. 



Transport by cattle is common in West Africa, and 

 Trypanosoma vivax is responsible for much destruc- 

 tion, not only among them, but among sheep, horses, 

 and goats also. T. brucei is also present, and both are 

 so fatal to horses in Nigeria that in many districts 

 the Government refuse compensation to their officials 

 for the loss of their animals dead of trypanosomiasis, 

 even when they have been used solely for official 

 duties. Transport animals and cattle intended for 

 food in Nigeria become infected in a short time, and 

 when the natives detect sickness, the animals are 

 slaughtered by the roadside, and cut up and sold at 

 a great loss to their owners, and this necessarily 

 causes great interruption to the progress of trade in 

 the country. 



Transport both by horses and cattle is interrupted 

 also by diseases due to the redwater group of 

 organisms. Babesia bovis and Theileria parva have 

 already been discussed in some detail (Chapter IX.). 

 Mention, too, may be made of the diseases of horses, 

 mules, donkeys, and zebras in Africa, and of the first 

 three in some parts of Europe, due chiefly to the 



