ANIMAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS 443 
vwipara which was described by Leiper from the hippopotamus in 1910. The 
second nematode Sandground has described as Leiperiatus hopkeni (Leiper, 1910). 
This parasite was observed by Leiper in a hippopotamus shot in the Uganda and 
named previously by him, Nematodirus hopkeni. Sandground has redescribed 
this parasite, as Leiper’s description of it was incomplete, and has found it neces- 
Sary to create a new genus (Leiperiatus) for it (see page 465). 
Stiles, 1926, does not list any species of Nematodirus (Ransom) as having 
been reported in man and only gives the habitat as the duodenum of ruminants. 
A study of a number of sections of different parts of the small intestine of the 
hippopotamus in which severe infections with these nematodes occurred shows 
that no definite lesions of the intestine can be attributed to them. In one or two 
places there is slight catarrhal inflammation on the surface of the mucous mem- 
brane in which desquamated epithelial cells and a few leucocytes, together with 
bacilli, are seen, but no sections of the nematodes occur in this area and none 
are seen within the crypts of the villi. Neither of the nematodes, therefore, can 
be regarded as having especial pathological significance for the hippopotamus. 
In the case of a hippopotamus shot at night, it was not practicable to per- 
form the necropsy until the following morning at which time the carcass was 
found to have been considerably gnawed during the night by hyenas. The vis- 
cera then showed postmortem degeneration, particularly of the stomach walls 
and of the liver and spleen which were soft and friable. A general infection with 
Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus was present. This organism was found in large 
numbers in films from the heart’s blood, spleen, and liver. 
Flies and ectoparasites, ticks, and leeches were collected from the hippopot- 
amuses. The specimens of ticks and leeches were apparently lost. Possibly 
the tick may have been Hyalomma hippopotamense Denny. The tabanids and 
oestrid fly collected are described in Chapter XXXVI. 
Elephant: Loxodonta africana capensis. Considerable difficulty was usually 
encountered in connection with the performance of necropsies upon elephants in 
the field or jungle (Nos. 374-378). The animals often have to be tracked and 
followed on the trail through the forests and across streams for hours. Hence 
they are usually shot at long distances from camp, generally not less than at 
least three or four hours walking distance away. It is impossible to have the 
porter carrying the postmortem and laboratory equipment accompany one 
throughout the time spent in trailing the animal, as will be obvious to any 
African hunter. Hence, after the elephant has been shot, one’s gun bearer must 
be sent to summon the native who carries such laboratory equipment, and all 
travel in these regions must be performed on foot. The necropsies usually have 
to be carried out in the hot sun and they sometimes require between four to five 
hours to complete on account of the great size of the animals. Almost invariably, 
also, there is a crowd of several hundred natives surrounding the animal and 
fighting among themselves for the meat. Considerable activity and care is 
necessary in order to prevent the natives from carrying off the viscera or parts 
of the viscera before they have been examined and sections and microscopic 
preparations made. 
