160 THE HANDLING OF ANIMALS 



Pasteurellosis. Another disease, caused by an organism of the Pasteurella 

 group (Chap. XXVIII.), is sometimes seen among rabbits. Infection is due to 

 contamination of the food and floors of the cages with infected excreta. The 

 animals are listless, suffer from diarrhoea and succumb rapidly. Post mortem : 

 excess of fluid in the pleurae, pericardium and peritoneum ; congestion of 

 the lungs, intestines, etc. 



HfPhisalix has described a disease caused by a Pasteurella similar to the 

 canine pasteurella (Chap. XXVIII.) which may sometimes produce an 

 epizootic among guinea-pigs. 



Certain contagious pneumonias (Weber, Tartakowsky and others) may 

 also attack laboratory animals. 



When a septicsemic infection makes its appearance in the animal house, 

 isolate the animals which are obviously or suspected to be infected and 

 disinfect the house. It is even better, especially if there be any which it is 

 particularly important not to lose (animals undergoing immunization, etc.), 

 to remove the animals which are healthy to some other place altogether, and 

 to transfer them to disinfected cages. Still it will often be difficult, what- 

 ever be done, to prevent the spread of the infection. 



[Several epizootics resulting in a heavy mortality among the guinea-pigs 

 in the small animal house and due to organisms other than those mentioned 

 have now been recorded. From the internal organs bacilli of the paratyphoid 

 group have been isolated (B. Gaertner, M'Conkey, Petrie, Bainbridge and 

 O'Brien, B. aertrycke, O'Brien, Petrie and O'Brien). There is evidence, 

 however, that these organisms were not, at least in some of the epizootics, 

 the real cause of the disease, which appeared to be a filter-passing organism 

 (Petrie and O'Brien), the paratyphoid bacilli being " secondary " infections.] 



Goccidiosis. Rabbits are frequently infected with Coccidium oviforme 

 (vide Sporozoa). It is important that this fact be kept in mind and it should 

 be noted that the disease is particularly troublesome in young animals. 



Numerous other parasites may be found in experimental animals, and 

 reference will be made to these in due course, more particularly when dealing 

 with Tuberculosis, Glanders, Pleuro-pneumonia, the Pasteurelloses, the Hsema- 

 tozoa, the Trypanosomata, etc. 



[Pseudo-tuberculosis. Pseudo -tuberculosis is a most troublesome disease 

 among guinea-pigs and rabbits not only because the naked-eye lesions so 

 closely resemble the lesions produced by the tubercle bacillus but because 

 so many animals become infected and die once the disease makes its appear- 

 ance in the animal house. Pseudo-tuberculosis is the result of infection with 

 a short stout bacillus with rounded ends which grows readily on agar at the 

 temperature of the body. A feature which may arouse suspicion is the fact 

 that the mesenteric glands are markedly affected which is, of course, not the 

 case when an animal has been inoculated sub-cutaneously or intra-peritoneally 

 with the tubercle bacillus. Infection apparently takes place through the 

 alimentary canal. When the disease appears all the animals in the animal 

 house must be isolated and as many as possible killed. It is a wise thing to 

 destroy any food or bedding in stock and order a fresh supply. ] 



SECTION IV. THE HANDLING OF EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALS. 



Most animals struggle when they are caught and try to bite or scratch the 

 person holding them. It is important to avoid these wounds, which may be 

 dangerous, especially when the animal is infected with a disease transmissible 

 to man, e.g. hydrophobia. A skilled worker should never be damaged by the 

 animals he handles. 



