332 ACUTE GENERAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



From lung-worm disease it may be differentiated on necropsy 

 but the contemporary occurrence of parasitic infestation 

 and swine plague infection is not uncommon. 



Treatment. — ^Medicinal treatment is valueless as in hog- 

 cholera. A prophylactic vaccine is now being employed to 

 protect healthy herds. The vaccine should be injected 

 intramuscularly rather than subcutaneously. In infected 

 herds serum is employed. There are several vaccines and 

 sera on the market to prevent and cure swine plague. Suffi- 

 cient data have not yet been accumulated to form a final 

 opinion as to the value of these agents. Swine plague has a 

 sporadic origin, is not very communicable and therefore does 

 not affect many herds in a community. The natural ten- 

 dency for the disease to die out suddenly in a herd has 

 undoubtedly given reputation to some of the sera. 



Takosis of Angora Goats. — Definition. — ^Takosis is a chronic, 

 contagious disease of Angora goats characterized by weak- 

 ness, emaciation, diarrhea and pneumonia, which leads to 

 death in from one to eight weeks. 



Occurrence. — ^The disease is not uncommon in the United 

 States, particularly in the northern states (Oregon, Missouri, 

 Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland). As the disease is 

 fatal, and 30 to 85 per cent, of the goats in a herd are attacked 

 during an outbreak, it attains considerable economic iihpor- 

 tance. 



Etiology. — The cause seems to be a micrococcus, the Micro- 

 coccus caprinus, which is pathogenic for goats, chickens, rab- 

 bits, guinea pigs and white mice, but not for sheep, dogs, or 

 rats. 



Necropsy. — ^The necropsy shows evidence of general anemia. 

 In the serous membranes petechiae are found. In the lungs 

 centers of pneumonia are present and in the pericardium 

 accumulations of transudate. There is chronic catarrh of the 

 mucous membranes, and occasional areas of necrosis have 

 been noted. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of takosis are very similar to 

 those following a parasitic invasion. In general there are 

 emaciation, weakness, with symptoms of diarrhea and cough. 

 In the early stages, except for a slight weakness, no symptoms 



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