Enzootic jaundice (yellows) in dogs / by C.C. Okell and T. Dalling.

  • Okell, C. C. (Charles Cyril), 1888-1939.
Date:
[1924?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Enzootic jaundice (yellows) in dogs / by C.C. Okell and T. Dalling. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    * p. 4 <? L inted from the Veterinary Record, November 29th, 1924. Enzootic Jaundice (Yellows) in Dogs. AM. By C. C. Okell and T. Balling, Wellcome Physio¬ logical Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent; and L. P. Pugh, Sevenoaks. We have recently had the opportunity of investi¬ gating infections jaundice in dogs. The cases so far have come from an area in each of three counties, Kent, Herts, and Surrey. The condition is similar to Weil’s disease in human beings, the course and post-mortem appearance being alike. Careful search was made for piroplasms, but none were found in any of the animals. We have found a leptospira present in various tissues of several affected dogs and in rats found in close association with the infected kennels. This leptospira when injected into guinea- pigs and dogs, either as culture or a liver emulsion from naturally infected dogs, has produced the disease with typical symptoms and post-mortem appearances. Fortunately we had at our disposal supplies of anti-leptospira serum which one of us (C. C. 0.) had made by immunising horses with rat leptospira obtained from Scottish mines in which cases of human jaundice (Weil's disease) had occurred. If guinea-pigs be protected with this serum they with¬ stand doses of culture or infected tissue fatal to unprotected guinea-pigs. The serum of dogs which have recovered from the disease appears to protect guinea-pigs against an otherwise fatal dose of culture or infected tissue. Hogs infected with the rat strain of leptospira develop a clinical and post-mortem picture indistinguishable from that of the natural disease. The anti-leptospira serum has been used prophy- lactically and therapeutically. Few results are yet available, but all seem to be favourable. In one infected kennel seven dogs were given serum, none developed the disease ; of five not given serum, two have died of the disease. A full account of the investigation will be published when the work has further advanced. We believe the disease is wide¬ spread in the country, but no reliable data are avail¬ able. We would be very grateful to veterinary surgeons for notes of any cases observed by them. We do not at present know of any human cases of the disease in association with these canine outbreaks, but enquiries are being made. Conclusions.—(1) Enzootic jaundice (yellows) in dogs has been investigated. The disease is apparently caused by leptospira icterohsemorrhagise. (2) Anti-leptospira serum apparently protects against the disease. It has been tried curatively in a few cases with promising results. (3) As leptospira icterohsemorrhagise is spread by rats, energetic anti-rat measures are advisable in all infected kennels.