[Proc. Rot. Soc. Victoria 34 (N.S.), Pt. II., 1922.] 



Art. XIX. — Further Researches into the Serological 

 Diagnosis of Contagious Pleui-o-Fneumonia of Cattle* 



By G. G. HESLOP, D.S.O., D.V.Sc, D.V.H. 



(Walter and Eliza Hall Fellow). 



(Communicated by Professor H. A. Woodruff.) 

 [Read 18th December, 1921.] 



Introduction. 



In a former publication by the writer on the Serological Diag- 

 nosis of Contagious Pleuro-pneumonia of Cattle (l),-*- a descrip- 

 tion was given of research work carried out at the Veterinary 

 ^Research Institute, Melbourne University, under the terms of 

 the Walter and Eliza Hall Research Fellowship in Veterinary 

 Science. The main object of the research was to endeavour to 

 elaborate a sero-diagnostic method for the detection of Con- 

 tagious Pleuro-pneumonia in affected cattle. 



Agglutination tests, using both the macroscopic and micro- 

 scopic methods of testing for agglutinins, were tried, but failed 

 to reveal the presence of agglutinins in the sera of animals 

 naturally aflFected with contagious pleuro-pneumonia. 



Agglutinins however were demonstrated macroscopically in 

 the serum of an experimental animal (calf) which had been 

 .injected subcutaneously in the tail with active pleuro-pneumonia 

 virus, and which subsequently received two further injections 

 subcutaneously behind the shoulders at intervals of 10 to 12 

 days; one injection being of pleuro-pneumonia virus, the other 

 of pure culture.^ Agglutination tests, using the microscopic 

 method with dark ground illumination, were not carried out, 

 and it has been considered desirable to carry out further exam- 

 inations of culture and various test sera under the microscope 

 with dark ground illumination so as to determine whether, by 

 using that method, the presence of agglutinins could be detected 

 in the sera of naturally affected cattle. 



(* Being the Final contribution in a Thesis approved for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary 

 rScience in the University of Melbourne.) 



1. Reference is made by number to " Literature Cited," p. 195. 



2. Loc. cit.. p. 177. 



