ICTERO-HEMATURIA IN SHEEP 349 
History. Mazureano observed this disease in 1884. In 1892, 
Babes pointed out the constant presence of an intraglobular parasite 
in the blood of sheep suffering from an enzodtic hemoglobinuria in 
Roumania. Bonome studied the same affection in Italy in 1895. 
Williams described this disease in Montana in the same year but he 
did not report finding the parasite. 
Geographical distribution. The piroplasma infection of sheep 
has been found in several places in Europe, especially in the flats of 
the Danube where it is reported 20% of its sheep may die. Pause 
found similar parasites in the blood of sheep in East Africa. Its 
existence in the United States is in question, although the description 
given by Williams of the disease he found suggests very strongly a 
Piroplasma origin. 
Etiology. Piroplasma ovis is the specific cause. This organism is 
very closely related to Piroplasma bigeminum of Texas fever. It is 
transmitted by Rhipicephalus bursa which as larvee or nymphs have 
sucked the blood of affected sheep. 
The period of incubation is from 8 to 10 days. 
Symptoms. In the beginning, the symptoms are said to be severe. 
There is a rise of temperature usually accompanied with a chill. 
After one or two days icterus appears. The urine is occasionally of a 
reddish brown color, due to the presence of hemoglobin. Death is 
preceded by a collapse in which the temperature is subnormal. The 
duration of the disease is usually but a few days. 
Morbid anatomy. The subcutaneous tissues are infiltrated with a 
yellowish colored liquid. The blood is thin and watery. The 
muscles are pale and edematous. The mucous membranes of the 
pharynx and intestines are often hemorrhagic. The liver is small, 
soft and yellowish in color. The spleen is usually slightly enlarged. 
The kidneys are soft and friable. There usually occurs a parenchy- 
matous nephritis. 
Diagnosis. It is positively diagnosed by finding the piroplasma 
in the blood. It is to be differentiated from anthrax. 
REFERENCES 
1. Basezs. L’étiologie d’ une enzootie des moutons dénommée Carceag en Rou- 
manie. Comp. R. del’ Acad. des Sciences, Vol. CXV (1892), p. 359. 
2. Bonome. Uber parasitare Ictero-Hamaturie der Schafe. Beitrag zum 
Studium der Amoebo-Sporidien. Archiv. fiir path. Anatomie, Bd. CKXXIX (1895), 
S. 1. 
3. WiuaMms. The parasitic Ictero-Hxmaturia of Sheep. Bulletin No. 8, Mon. 
Agric. Exp. Station, 1895, also Amer. Vet. Review, Vol. XXI (1897), p. 377. 
