INFECTIOUS GRANULAR VAGINITIS OF CATTLE 479 



herd or community (community bull). Horses, sheep, and 

 swine are immune to infection. 



S3miptoms. — ^The period of incubation from natural infec- 

 tion is usually three to five days. A minimum period of 

 one day is recorded. The first symptom is an acute> 

 purulent colpitis with congestion, swelling, and sensitiveness 

 of the mucosa of the vagina, accompanied by some muco- 

 purulent discharge. Later there appear on the lateral sur- 

 faces of the vagina and in the neighborhood of the clitoris 

 a number of small, firm nodules or granules about the 

 size of a hemp seed. At first they are dark red, but later 

 become paler (enlarged lymph follicles). Concomitant with 

 the granular eruption occurs an odorless, mucopurulent, or 

 purulent vaginal discharge, which soils the vulva and the 

 tail, where it dries to brownish crusts. The general condition 

 of the animal is not much disturbed. In about one month 

 the symptoms of acute inflammation subside, th6 discharge 

 becomes more mucous, and the granules fade to light red 

 or reddish-yellow. The process tends to extend forward 

 in the vagina and may enter the uterus, causing endometritis. 

 Sterility and abortion are apt to result. 



Diagnosis. — ^The recognition depends upon the contagious 

 character of the disease and the characteristic appearance of 

 the granules which do not break down to form pustules or 

 ulcers. In the vaginal mucous membrane of perfectly healthy 

 cows a few enlarged lymph follicles may be found. Therefore 

 conclusions should not be arrived at hastily. In infectious 

 abortion the lymph follicles may also become swollen but as 

 a rule the nodules are larger, more discrete and less "numerous. 

 From vesicular exanthema of cattle, infectious granular 

 vaginitis is distinguished by the fact that no vesicles, pustules 

 or ulcers occur, the general condition is not usually dis- 

 turbed and the bull is also pronouncedly affected (vesicles 

 and ulcers in the sheath and on the penis; mucopurulent 

 discharge from the urethra). Furthermore, coital exanthema 

 occurs also in the horse, sheep, and swine. 



Course. — The course is prolonged, the disease usually last- 

 ing ifor weeks or months. As an attack does not produce 

 immunity, reinfection commonly occurs. As a general 



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