68 BTJLLETIX 1089, U. S. DEPAET:\IEXT OF AGRICUT.TURE. 



While lice in cattle are more numerous in certain seasons, it "was not 

 observed that the reindeer were bothered to any extent in Alaska. 

 Eeindeer men report that they have at times noticed a loss of hair 

 in reindeer which may have been due to attacks of lice. 



PROTOZOA. 



The Protozoa found in reindeer require further study. Sarcospo- 

 ridm in the muscles are of common occurrence. In cattle and sheep 

 these parasites are usually regarded as having little .significance, 

 but in reindeer there are some cases at least where the numbers of 

 the cysts are so great that value of the meat is lowered. A disease 

 called by reindeer men " cornmeal." which is also caused by Pro- 

 tozoa,^^ is noticed when affected animals are skinned ; there is found 

 to be a decided roughening of the bones and tendons, hence the name 

 •' cornmeal." It would be difficult to detect these cases in the live 

 animals. Young reindeer do not seem to be infested, or only to a 

 slight extent. The old animals are the most heavily parasitized. 



PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN GENERAL. 



In the survey of the reindeer industry in Alaska, no serious out- 

 breaks of contagious diseases were encountered. It would seem that 

 reindeer are more fortunate than either cattle or sheep in this regard. 



Parasites are undoubtedly the worst enemies reindeer have, and 

 fortunately the outlook for controlling some species seems hopeful. 

 For instance, the worms which reindeer derive from dogs can be re- 

 duced simply by treating the dogs with vermifuges. The remed}' lies 

 in the hands of the reindeer owners. 



Bacterial diseases, such as foot rot. have been mentioned in the 

 preceding paragraphs: there are, however, several other bacterial 

 diseases requiring further investigation, such as lung affections and 

 diseases of the heart. 



Septic conditions of lungs and the coverings of the heart are not 

 uncommon. It may be found that these cases are brought on me- 

 chanically by the penetration of foreign bo<:lies from the paunch. In 

 those cases which were examined for bacteria, a variety of organisms 

 were encountered. 



In concluding this chapter on disease, it will be well to caution all 

 reindeer men against keeping sickly animals in their herds. // there 

 is any doubt ahout an animal, it should he killed without hesitojtion. 

 Great losses may often he averted hy promj)t action of this nature. 



^ Cf. Hadwen, Seymour, Cyst-forming Protozoa in reindeer and caribou : Joiirn. Amer- 

 Vet. Med. Assn., vol. 61, n. s. vol. 14, no. 4, pp. .374-382, figs. 1-8, July, 1922. In this 

 article the parasite of " cornmeal " disease is described, and named Fibrocystis tarandi. 



