BRAXY— GASTROMYCOSIS OVIS 291 



the winter. Peculiarly, outbreaks seem more common fol- 

 lowing a heavy frost. 



Etiology. — Braxy is due to the Bacillus gastromycosis ovis, 

 an anaerobe which usually carries a spore near one end, pro- 

 duces gas and stains according to Gram. The germ is patho- 

 genic to guinea-pigs, rabbits, and pigeons. While subcutane- 

 ous inoculations generally produce the disease in susceptible 

 sheep, feeding experiments with this bacillus have given 

 negative results: 



Natural Infection. — Probably through wounds (in upper 

 digestive tract?) and possibly through the digestive tract with 

 food. The disease is not thought to be spread by drinking 

 water. 



Necropsy. — In peracute cases few if any postmortem 

 changes can be noted. In acute cases usually the principal 

 lesions are found in the abomasum and duodenum, the mucous 

 membrane of which is swollen, edematous, and spotted with 

 occasional bluish-red hemorrhagic areas. Necrotic patches 

 have been described. The blood is dark but readily coagu- 

 lates, and the spleen not enlarged. The liver and kidneys 

 show parenchymatous degeneration. In the body cavities a 

 serohemorrhagic exudate collects and the subcutaneous con- 

 nective tissue is edematous. Decomposition occurs rapidly 

 and emphysema of the parenchymatous organs is commonly 

 found in delayed necropsies. 



In the diseased mucous membranes, the infiltrated sub- 

 mucosa, in the fluid of the body cavities, blood, and parenchy- 

 matous organs the specific germ is found. 



Symptoms. — The period of incubation is two or three days. 

 The course of braxy is so rapid and fatal that clinical symp- 

 toms are rarely observed by the veterinarian. Even in those 

 cases which may be examined clinically the symptoms are not 

 particularly characteristic. It may be noted that the affected 

 sheep are restless, alternately lying down and getting up 

 suddenly, as if in pain. There may be slight bloating, arched 

 back, and pendent head. When artificially injected sub- 

 cutaneously the injected limb is dragged behind. The sheep 

 champs the jaws, churning the saliva into foam. It usually 

 leaves the rest of the herd, is very listless, and depressed. In 



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