ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATE I.-Micrococcus caprinus from (1) bouillon and (2) milk-culture media. II.—Micrococcus caprinus from the (1) lung and (2) blood of Angora goats.... III.—Angora goats Nos. 31 and 32 affected with takosis; photographed IV.—Angora goat No. 27 six days before death from takosis Page. 16 16 16 16 16 TAKOSIS, A CONTAGIOUS DISEASE OF GOATS: A PRELIMINARY REPORT ON ITS NATURE, CAUSE, AND PREVENTION. By JOHN R. MOHLER, V. M. D., Chief of Pathological Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, AND HENRY J. WASHBURN, D. V. S., Acting Assistant Chief of Pathological Division, Bureau of Animal Industry. PRELIMINARY REMARKS. It will surprise many readers to learn that there exists a disease of any kind sufficiently virulent to kill a goat. As popularly regarded, this animal haunts the backyards and alleys in the suburban districts of our cities, where he picks up various articles of sustenance which would prove fatal if consumed by any other species of animal. Kept under these conditions, he usually presents such a cheerful and healthy appearance that he would at once be pronounced able to combat successfully anything that should come his way, even an infectious disease. While admitting that the common goat (Capra hircus) is susceptible to comparatively few ailments, it will be shown by the following article that the Angora, after many generations of careful breeding and selection under favorable conditions, has developed a perceptible retrogradation in vitality and power of resistance against disease and has been seriously and fatally affected in many sections of the country by a disease not accredited to its prototype. During the fall and winter of the past year, reports of a chronic, highly fatal contagious disease, which seemed to threaten the Angora goat industry in certain districts, reached this Bureau from several different States; and, as the symptoms and postmorten lesions described in the letters were entirely unlike any of those accompanying the known diseases which affect this species of animals, arrangements were made to secure the viscera of an animal that had died after showing characteristic symptoms of the disease in question, in order to investigate the nature, and, if possible, the cause of the affection. As a result, the entire viscera, including the head and intestinal canal of a goat that succumbed to the disease, was received in good condition from Pennsylvania during December, 1901. The inoculated culture media and cover-glass preparations made from the heart's blood, lungs, and spleen showed a small micrococcus arranged in the form of a diplococcus, and occasionally in tetrads or short chains. Two other organisms were obtained from the liver and lungs-one a large spore-bearing rod and the other a motile, peptonizing bacillus; but, after a bacteriological examination and inoculation tests, they were shown to be obvious contaminations, the result of postmortem invasion. A similar study of the micrococcus isolated from the heart's blood revealed its pathogenic properties to mice and guinea pigs, and it was thereupon determined to make a more extended investigation of the disease. Shortly after, one of the writers was enabled to visit a large flock of Angora goats, among which the disease was prevalent, with deaths occurring daily, and it is principally from the information acquired from an investigation of the disease in this outbreak that the following article has been prepared. NAME OF DISEASE. Takosis. It is with considerable hesitation that a specific designation for the disease in question is suggested at this time, and although generally the coinage of names is to be avoided, still it seems essential and preeminently of importance to individualize this affection by means of a descriptive term. For this purpose the name Takosis is proposed. It is derived from the Greek Tiko, meaning to waste, to cause to waste away, and is thought sufficiently descriptive and accurate to meet the desired requirements. HISTORY OF OUTBREAK. On arriving at the farm where the Angora goats were kept, it was learned from the owner that goats had been maintained on the premises for several years, but the majority of the flock had been purchased in Texas six weeks before the outbreak. The disease had commenced its ravages in November, when the animals had been on brush land in the mountains. Laurel poisoning was suspected, as several goats had died from this cause during the previous summer, but on closer observation this opinion was disregarded, not only on account of the different symptoms manifested, but also from the chronic course of the disease. The general weakness, loss of flesh, and extreme debility of the animals then suggested intestinal parasites as the cause, and worm powders were administered for a period sufficiently long to obtain results but without success. It was then thought desirable to change the pasture, and accordingly the goats were brought down from the mountains to the farm, where they were stable-fed. The majority were placed on the ground floor of a large hillside barn in various-sized pens to accommodate the several bunches into which the animals had been graded. |