Granular Venereal Disease of Cattle 99 



In artificial cultures, either alkaline or acid, and at the body 

 or room temperature, the organism grows vigorously. It does 

 not liquefy coagulated blood serum or gelatin nor coagulate 

 milk. It forms neither gas nor indol. 



The disease is readily induced in healthly cows b}' vaginal in- 

 oculation with pure cultures or by discharges from the vagina 

 of a diseased animal. 



Attempts at experimental transmission to other species of 

 animals have resulted negatively. 



Naturally, the infection is transmitted almost wholly by copu- 

 lation, an affected bull infecting almost all the cows with which he 

 copulates. A bull which has recently served a diseased cow 

 may transmit the malady to a sound one wathout becoming dis- 

 eased him.self . Sometimes the transmission occurs through ordi- 

 nary contact, without sexual intercourse. It may be accidental!}' 

 transmitted to heifers or calves. 



The streptococci, having gained the vagina, penetrate the 

 mucosa and are found between the epithelial cells and deeply 

 wathin the papillae. The organisms have also been identified in 

 nodules in the uterus, in the uterine mucosa and in the ovaries 

 which have undergone C5'Stic degeneration. 



In this w^ay, apparently, they cause the very frequent sterility, 

 while the wide area of distribution of the organisms and their 

 depth within the ti.ssues render disinfection and cure a complex 

 and difficult problem. 



Symptoms. According to Ostertag, a vaginal catarrh be- 

 comes established within 2-3 days after artificial inoculation, 

 while, by natural or coital infection, one or two more daj's elapse 

 before the catarrh becomes apparent. Raebiger observed va- 

 ginitis and catarrh in 24 hours. 



The first symptoms of the malady to be noted consist of swell- 

 ing of the labige of the vulva and a diffused or streaked reddening 

 and swelling of the vulvo- vaginal mucosa, with tenderness of the 

 parts. The inflamed area is covered somewhat by a muco- 

 purulent discharge. 



A day or two later there develop in the vestibule of the vulva 

 along the floor and sides about the clitoris numerous small nodules 

 ^Jg- to |- inch in diameter, which are at first dark red, later be- 

 coming lighter in color. These nodules are smooth and of very 



