PARASITE OF BOVINE FARCY 667 



considerable difficulty on ordinary media between 25 and 30 C., and gives 

 a white growth on agar and gelatin, and a reddish-brown growth on potato. 



XIII. DISCOMYCES FARCINICUS (Nocard). 



Syn. Nocardia farcinica. Oospora farcinica. [Streptothrix farcinicus.] 

 This species of Discomyces, described by Nocard, is not pathogenic to man. 

 Bovine farcy only affects cattle and must be carefully distinguished from farcy 

 due to the glanders bacillus which occurs in man and the horse. It is characterized 

 by adenitis and superficial lymphangitis followed later by lesions of the lungs and 

 viscera. Discomyces farcinicus is probably to be found in stable-Utter and soil, 

 and it appears likely that animals become infected through some solution of con- 

 tinuity of the integuments. In Guadeloupe the disease is thought to be transmitted 

 by a tick of the family Ixodidae (Hyalomma cegyptium). 



1. Experimental inoculation. 



The parasite of bovine farcy is inoculable into cattle, sheep and guinea-pigs. 

 Guinea-pigs are the most suitable animals for experimental purposes. Rab- 

 bits, horses and dogs are immune. 



In guinea-pigs sub-cutaneous inoculation leads to the formation of an 

 enormous abscess complicated by lymphangitis. The abscess ultimately 

 discharges externally and the animal recovers. 



Intra-peritoneal inoculation leads in 2 or 3 weeks to a condition resembling 

 tuberculous peritonitis : the omentum and the surfaces of the abdominal 

 viscera are covered with tubercle-like nodules. 



Intra-venous inoculation is rapidly fatal and produces a true generalized 

 miliary tuberculous-like condition. All the viscera are infiltrated with 

 miliary granulations. 



2. Morphology and methods of detection. 



(a) Microscopical appearance. The fungus of bovine farcy occurs as 

 delicate filaments twisted into clusters from the periphery of which numerous 

 prolongations take origin, giving an appearance very like that of the seeds 

 of burrs. The filaments are not much branched. 

 " Clubs " are never seen. 



In cultures numerous very small oval spores are 

 found, which do not stain by ordinary methods. 



Staining reactions. The organism stains with 

 the basic aniline dyes and is gram-positive. 



(/?) Methods of detection. Films should be 

 prepared with the pus and, after staining by 

 Gram's method and eosin, examined for the 

 parasite. 



For sections, harden the pseudo-tuberculous 

 lesions in alcohol, embed in paraffin and stain 

 by Gram's method, using eosin or Orth's picro- 

 carmine as a ground stain. The clusters of FIG. sis. Discomyces farcinicus. 

 filaments will be found in the centres of the 3^ (8l$"$. 9?^**'* 

 tubercles. 



(7) Cultural characteristics. Discomyces farcinicus is a strictly aerobic 

 organism and grows on ordinary media when incubated at between 30 and 

 40 C. Pure cultures can be easily obtained by removing with a Pasteur 

 pipette some of the material from the centre of an abscess which has not 

 opened externally. 



