500 INFECTIOUS DISEASES DUE TO PROTOZOA 



of conjunctiva (with profuse lacrimosis), throat, legs, 

 under belly, prepuce (in males); the trypanosomes being 

 found in the blood diu-ing the fever stages. Later the fever 

 assumes an intermittent or remittent type, the patient be- 

 comes anemic (pale, icteric mucous membranes), emaciated 

 and very weak, especially in hind parts, finally gets down 

 and dies of inanition. The appetite is well retained through- 

 out the disease. In some cases keratitis, corneal abscess, 

 iritis and blindness develop dm-ing the attack. Urticaria 

 (plaques) may also be noted occasionally. 



Diagnosis. — Depends upon a knowledge of the prevalency 

 of the disease in the district, the symptoms of remittent 

 fever, edemas, emaciation and weakness (in spite of good 

 appetite), and the demonstration of the trypanosomes in 

 the lymph glands, blood and edematous swellings. When the 

 microscopic findings are negative, dogs should be inoculated. 



Prevention. — Same as in Surra. 



Mai de caderas.' — Definition. — Mai de caderas is a South 

 American disease of horses due to the Trypanosoma equinum. 

 It is characterized by fever, paralysis of the hind parts, 

 urticaria, edemas of pendent portions of the body, keratitis, 

 anemia and emaciation. 



Occurrence. — ^The disease is found in Brazil, Batavia, 

 Argentine, Paraguay, and on the islands of the delta of the 

 Amazon. Like most trypanosomiases, mal de caderas is 

 found in swampy localities. In infected districts in Argen- 

 tine the disease plays havoc with the horse industry. 



Etiology. — ^The cause of mal de caderas is the Trj'pano- 

 soma equinima (T. elmassiana), which is very similar to the 

 Trypanosoma brucei of nagana. 



The mode of transmission of the disease from animal to 

 animal is as yet unsolved. Formerly horse-flies (Stomoxys 

 brava), tabanidea and even mosquitoes were accused. 



Doubt has been cast upon this assumption by the fact 

 that a wire fence is sufficient to prevent the spread of the 

 disease. It is probable that the disease is transmitted 

 indirectly by the capybara (a large rodent). The capybaras 



' Mal de caderas, "hip disease," from a prominent symptom. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



