772 Piroplasniosis of Cattle. 



count of harmful influences, and produce a severe affection 

 (such acute outbreaks of the previously latent disease have 

 frequently been observed after artificial infection with rinder- 

 pest blood) (see p. 255). 



Anatomical Changes. Animals dead from the disease show 

 chang-os in the digestive organs and in the spleen. The mucous 

 membrane of the abomasum shows a catarrhal swelling and 

 manifests, especially in the pyloric region, numerous small 

 hemorrhages and erosions. Similar changes are present on the 

 mucous membrane of the intestines and especially on those 

 of the rectum, the contents of which is colored reddish on 

 account of the numerous and extensive hemorrhages of the 

 mucous membrane. The liver is enlarged, the substance flabby, 

 lusterless, and covered with yellowish streaks and spots on 

 a dull reddish-brown base. The gall bladder frequently con- 

 tains great quantities of thickened bile. The spleen is always 

 strikingly enlarged, its pulp is very rich in blood, brownish-red, 

 or brownish gray-red, and frequently softened, almost liquefied, 

 the capsule extended or even ruptured (Witt)._ The bladder 

 contains a great quantity of pale or dark-red urine, its mucous 

 membrane is sprinkled Avith red discolorations. 



The autopsy findings are further: Hemorrhages in the 

 serous cavities, sometimes also in the brain substance and bone 

 marrow, cloudy swelling of the kidneys, frequently with puncti- 

 form hemorrhages, serous infiltration of the subcutaneous and 

 subserous connective tissue, hypostatic hyperemia of the lungs, 

 exceptionally also catarrhal pneumonia with sero-fibrinous 

 pleurisy. The blood is pale-red and thin, the red blood cor- 

 puscles' of the spleen and liver contain piroplasmas in a jiropor- 

 tion even up to 80%. In some cases icterus is also present. 

 (According to Piot the temperature in the abdominal cavity 

 rises after death to 44° and over.) 



Symptoms. According to experimental investigations with 

 larvae of ticks, the period of incubation ranges from 8 to 10 

 days. 



The disease commences with a rapid rise in temperature, 

 and usually with pronounced dullness and debility, accelerated 

 respiration and heart action. The temperature remains for 

 several days at 40° to 42" C, whereupon in mild cases it grad- 

 ually returns to normal, while in severe cases it rapidly drops 

 below normal before death. 



In pasture the animals rest frequently, fall back behind 

 the herd and ruminate with long interruptions; exceptionally 

 s^auptoms of irritation, involuntary movements, and even 

 delirium are observed at the onset of the disease. At first 

 there is constipation, later the animals show symptoms of colic 

 and tenesmus, dry yellowish-brown, later thin, mashy feces, 

 mixed mth mucous or blood coagulum. The milk secretion 



