THE RINDERPEST

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1923, Page 4

THE RINDERPEST

WHAT THU I’KST 1)0K>. The 11 it>st devastinp: cattle disease known lo science Inis inviulcii the Commonwealth, says a writer in the Sydney “ Sun." Rinderpest, or cuttle plague, although known lor upwards of 1 001) years, has hitherto not made its apparance in Australia, New Zealand, or America. This long immunity as I’ttr as the Commonwealth is concerned is atlast broken through. China was the first country known to historians that recorded the existence of the cattle plague, and the linns we re responsible for the spread to other countries. Front 17-15 to 17-10 many serious outbreaks were recorded in Kurope ; during this period Holland suffered a loss of L’oo.ooo cattle, Denmark 280,000, and Italy *IOO.OOO. In IS 11 rinderpest was introduced to Kgypt from Austria; the first outbreak was noted in South Africa in ISSI —it was in 1807-1)8 that Cape Colony horned cal tie were practically wiped out; no fewer than 1 ~'IOO,OOO losses were recorded. Cattle introduced into Abyssinia, for the Italian troops, from sunny Italy, were responsible for the first outbreak there. The American troops in Ihe Philippines obtained their cattle supplies from Asia, and it was to this cause that the first outbreak recorded in that country in ISOS-09 was atributed, although it was at that time reported to be well established in Java. MORALITY FIOrRFS.

Lending veterinary scientists have fixed the mortality rate in the case of ordinary susceptible cattle at 00 to o.', per cent., and in the case of hill cattle, especially in those of the nine a lavas, at as high as Of) per cent. These figures indicate how grave i- the menace to Australia's, live stock. The rinderpest scourge is due to an ultramierosoopie micro organism so minute that it will pass through the finest porcelain filter. The mucous membranes are attacked and the germs gain access to the blood through the digestive tract. There 'is some similarity in the initial stage to the " foot-and-mouth disease’' and anthrax. Tn addition to cattle, sheep, goats camels, buffaloes, deer wild ruminants and ocassionally pigs are subject to attack— although in the case of sheep and camels they offer a greater resistance. Curiously enough, horses enjoy immunity, whilst birds, earnivira, and human beings have never been known te suffer infection. SOCRCKS Of IXI-KCTIOX. The disease, which runs a definite course, possesses a remarkably short period of incubation. After three to nine days’ exposure to the virus the temperature rises to 104-1 Ob degrees: ! death occurs within two to seven days later—a danger signal is the sudden j abatement of the fever. Infection is caused by insects (such as the tsetse fly and ticks';, food, water, hay. stall litter, clothes of attendants, floors, walls, and stalls of buildings, cattle trucks and yards, whilst hides, hones, wool, and hair (unless properly disinfected) act tic carriers. : Infective matter remains virulent for periods running from three days to six months. There is no known remedial measure whilst the anti-rinderpest serum injected intravenously will only give a fo rt n igl. t’ s immunity. The rinderpest virus is present in tlie discharge from the nostrils, mouth eyes, urine, and excrement.

SYMPTOMS. One of the most characteristic features of the disease, apart- from the offensive, infectious mucous discharge, is the presence of numerous small vesicles which subsequently develop into ulcers. These attack the gum, tongue, lips, and dental pad. The affected beast; exhibits all the symptoms of high fever, mopes the back becomes arched, and the animal suffers considerable pain, ft staggers and experiences great difficulty in retaining its feet ; the head droops. Once it: relapses into the recumbent stage, with its head turned to its flank, it soon expires.