Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swineMoussu, G. (Gustave)
Science
Diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and swine
Moussu, G. (Gustave)
Veterinary medicine
Wet years appear to favour the extension and propagation of distomatosis
in an extraordinary fashion, a fact which is easily understood, if we
regard the phases of evolution of the parasite. The autumn appears
particularly favourable to the infection of herds. This is explained by
the fact that, during the summer, the dryness of the fields entirely
prevents the development of such eggs as may be distributed over them;
whilst wet periods during the autumn favour this development.
On the other hand, the grass becomes eaten down in autumn, so that the
animals gather it almost level with the ground. As the cercariæ attach
themselves to the lowest leaves they are then ingested in much larger
quantities. The bad effects of wet seasons are not immediately apparent,
but appear during the following spring.
Distomatosis is common throughout almost the whole of Europe, Africa,
and America. In France it is most serious in the moister regions of
Sologne, in Berry, the mountainous and wet districts of the great
central plateau, and particularly in the Pyrenees. It particularly
attacks oxen in the valley of the Meuse, the marshes of Picardy, the
lower regions of Normandy, and in all the mountainous pastures of the
central plateau.
=Lesions.= The lesions of distomatosis vary with the stage of
development of the parasites. During the primary phase of invasion of
the bile ducts by young distomata one finds interstitial diffuse
hepatitis, due to perforation of the gland by young parasites, adhesive
perihepatitis, with the formation of false membranes, and not uncommonly
slight peritonitis.
Zoologists state that the young distomata penetrate the liver by passing
upwards against the current of bile. It does not appear impossible,
however, that they may penetrate by another path, particularly as
so-called “erratic” forms of distomatosis like distomatosis of the lung,
heart, lymphatic glands, and various other tissues are not uncommon. It
has been suggested that the young distomata, arriving in the bile ducts,
perforate the gland, giving rise to these lesions of perihepatitis,
peritonitis or erratic distomatosis; but this view is scarcely in
harmony with the fact that the parasites are usually found in the bile
ducts.
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