COCCIDIOSIS 501 



are said to die in great numbers and are eaten by dogs from 

 which a spread to horses is assumed. 



Symptoms. — ^The period of incubation is about ten days. 

 The most prominent symptom is weakness of the hind parts 

 with loss of coordination, the hind legs being dragged and the 

 fetlocks knuckling over when walking. The patient rapidly 

 emaciates and becomes so weak (paraparesis) that when 

 down, it rises from the ground with great difficulty. When 

 standing, the limbs are spread apart. Finally the patients 

 remain down, show paralysis of the rectum (fecal stasis), or 

 relaxation of the anal sphincter and incontinence of feces. 

 The fever is atypical, urticaria-like swellings appear on the 

 skin, and individual joints become swollen. Edemas of 

 pendent parts of the body are not so common as in surra 

 and nagana. Albuminuria and hematuria are not rare. 

 Conjunctivitis and keratitis are common complications. 

 The appetite is retained to the end. In acute cases the 

 trypanosomes are found in the blood in numbers; in chronic 

 cases their determination is only possible by inoculation of 

 rats and mice. 



Course. — ^The course is usually one to two months; chronic 

 cases may linger for months, the emaciation and paresis 

 developing very gradually. 



Prognosis. — Bad. Nearly all cases die. 



Treatment. — No medicinal treatment is of value. Trypan- 

 roth has been tried in experimental animals (mice) with some 

 success. 



Prevention. — ^As a mode of transmission is still in doubt, 

 well directed preventive measiu-es are wanting. Keeping 

 susceptible horses off low-lying, undrained fields and killing 

 the diseased animals are recommended. 



COCCIDIOSIS. 



CocciDiAL Dysentery of Cattle. Red Dysentery. 



Definition. — ^An inflanunation of the intestines of cattle 

 due to a coccidium and characterized by a bloody diarrhea. 



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