140          Liver Fluke and its Control in Hyderabad State

     SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS [PLATE XIII, FIGS. 1-3]

The local name of the disease in Telugu is 'Janegarogam', and farmer is
quite familiar with the condition. Knowing little about the life-history of
the parasite, he blames the eating of tunga as its cause. This of course
is caused by the ingestion of meta-cercariæ that are deposited on
tunga.

The effect and severity of disease due to fluke infestation depend largely
upon the number of parasites present in the liver, and therefore the symptoms
and the course of the disease are variable, lasting from six months to a year
or so. Animals brought into the area pick up infection usually during and
just after the rains and show the first symptoms in about three months, early
in winter. These are :—Gradual loss in condition, staring coat, intermittent
diarrhœa which later advances to shooting diarrhœa. The visible mucous
membranes are icteric and general anæmia is noticeable. The symptoms
of œdema under the jaw is by no means a constant feature and is
seen in the last stage, particularly in buffaloes. The emaciation is
progressive and bonyparts specially the ribs become apparent due to loss
of muscles. Finally, animals being unable to get up, begin to die in the
following spring.

The symptoms especially in the early stage are not at all clear and it is
therefore difficult to diagnose cases from clinical observations alone. Micros-
copic examination of fæces is conclusive. The post-mortem examination shows
a cirrhotic liver and pipey condition of the bile ducts. Innumerable mature
flukes can be squeezed out of the bile ducts by pressure.

In an outbreak of liver-rot in Bikaneri sheep, at the Government Farm,
Hingoli, in 1936, sixteen cases died within a month. New stock imported
from Karnal started the infection, since there was no record of liver fluke at
the farm for the past fifteen years. The infestation was kept up through the
affected snails in common water supply from the tank.

In sheep the symptoms are different from those seen in cattle, and the
disease usually runs an acute course (Plate XIII, fig. 4). Apparently healthy
looking sheep might die within a few days, although chronic cases are also
encountered. Much depends, however, on the extent of fluke infestation.
Some sheep in the prime of condition showed dullness and anorexia and died
in a day or so. Post-mortem examination showed acute liver-rot in such cases,
even areas in lungs were encountered which were degenerated and necrotic
and on section revealed the presence of liver flukes.

Cameron [ 1932 ] records that it is not the actual death which constitutes
the sole loss but far more expensive is the loss of condition and decreased
productivity. This experience we also gained at our farm, since at the end
of mating season, out of 55 ewes, 13 did not come into œstrum and remained
empty. Besides, the progeny was observed to be weak in condition.

In goats, the condition is frequently seen at the slaughter houses. Liver
being the chief organ involved, shows areas of necrosis and cirrhotic bands
in the parenchyma.