PIROPLASMOSIS OF THE DOG 633 



method is to close them up tight and introduce formaldehyd 

 gas. Incubators have proved to be common carriers of the 

 infection, therefore attention to this matter is especially 

 important, (b) All eggs selected for hatching should be 

 cleaned and disinfected in the following manner: Saturate 

 a cloth in 50 per cent, alcohol and wipe each egg carefully 

 before placing it in the incubator. Do not use an excess of 

 alcohol as it will penetrate the egg shell. This treatment 

 will effectively remove all surface infection, (c) All coops, 

 houses, nests, etc., should be disinfected at regular intervals. 

 (d) When possible it would be advisable to select hens as 

 layers that are free from the disease. This can be done quite 

 efficiently by examining samples of eggs, discharges, aggluti- 

 nation test, etc. (e) All litter from infected houses, coops, 

 etc., should either be burned or treated with lime to pre-- 

 vent the perpetuation of the disease. 



PIROPLASMOSIS OF THE DOG. 



Infectious Jaundice. Biliary Fever. Malignant Jaundice. 



Definition.— A malignant or infectious disease of the dog 

 produced by the Piroplasma canis or Piroplasma commune. 



Etiology.— Piroplasmosis of the dog has been reported in 

 several different countries. It is produced by two species of 

 piroplasma or Babesia: Piroplasma canis and Piroplasma 

 commune. Morphologically these parasites are identical 

 with Piroplasma bigeminum. The Piroplasma canis is 2-4 

 microns in diameter, the free organisms spherical, and those 

 contained within the corpuscles are pear-shaped or contain 

 many angles. Multiplication is by direct division. The 

 Piroplasma commune is similar, round or pear-shaped. The 

 round type is 1.0-1.5 microns, and the pear-shaped 1.5-2.5 

 microns in diameter. The former is not transmissible to any 

 other animal while the latter has been transmitted to the 

 guinea pig and cat. 



Dogs become infected from ticks and fleas (Ixodes ricinus, 

 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Dermacentor variabilis, Haema- 

 physalis Leachi, Ctenocephalus canis) , which have been found 

 to be common carriers of the disease. Young animals 



