478 , CHRONIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis is not difficult as usually several 

 mares in a stud are losing their foals, showing vaginal dis- 

 charge and retained placenta. As a result, many of them are 

 untlirifty^ thin and weak. Foals carried the full period of 

 gestation, which are able to stand and nm-se, frequently 

 develop knuckling of the anterior fetlock joints, painful 

 joint swellings and diarrhea. 



Treatment. — The fundamental principles suggested to 

 control abortion in the cow apply equally well to the mare. A 

 bacterin made of the Bacillus abortivo-equinus injected 

 subcutaneously into pregnant mares in proper and increasing 

 doses has been found harmless. Whether or not it produces 

 immunity has not been demonstrated. 



INFECTIOUS GRANULAR VAGINITIS OF CATTLE. 



Colpitis Granulosa Infectiosa Bovum. 



Definition. — Infectious granular vaginitis is a disease of 

 cattle characterized by catarrhal inflammation of, and the 

 presence of peculiar nodules in the vaginal mucosa. 



Occurrence. — ^The disease is widely distributed in the 

 United States. In some communities nearly every dairy 

 herd is infected. It is also very prevalent in England and 

 on the continent of Europe. As the disorder tends to prevent 

 conception and in some cases induces abortion (?), it attains 

 great economic importance. 



Etiology. — ^The cause seems to be a specific streptococcus 

 which is Gram-negative. 



Natural Infection. — The disease is spread by the bull 

 during the act of coitus. It may also be disseminated by 

 contact of healthy with infected cows. Stable litter, utensils, 

 syringes, etc., or even the hands of attendants contaminated 

 with infectious vaginal discharge, are important factors of 

 spread. The disease, therefore, is not confined to cows, 

 but attacks heifers, calves and even males. In the bull the 

 mucous membrane lining the sheath, external surface of 

 the penis, or even the urethra becomes infected which 

 accounts for the rapid dissemination of the disease in a cow 



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