Annual report of the Veterinary Department, Sudan Government.

  • Sudan. Veterinary Department.
Date:
[1925]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Veterinary Department, Sudan Government. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/56 (page 29)
    Anthrax. During the year 76 cases of Anthrax in cattle, and 8 cases in sheep, have been diagnosed. This represents a considerable increase on previous years. With one exception, namely, a sheep which died on the train between Berber and Wadi Haifa, all the cases of anthrax have occurred in the quarantines of Shambat, Khartoum North, Wadi Haifa, or Port Sudan, or en route between the quarantines, always after the arrival in Shambat or Khartoum. Only one case of anthrax has occurred in the new quarantine at Khartoum North. The incidence of anthrax died out with the occupa¬ tion of the new quarantine, the last case occurring in Port Sudan on March 20th, 1925. This may be due to the normal end of what appears to be an anthrax season, but there can be no doubt that the evacuation of the quarantine at Shambat, which is heavily infected with anthrax, will influence markedly the incidence of anthrax. Unless comparative observations are carried out with the anthrax vaccine, which it is intended to use this winter, it will be difficult to estimate its utility, even should the incidence of anthrax be low. Whilst bearing in mind the outbreaks of anthrax amongst the na¬ tives of Nuba Mountains Province, the evidence, together with that put forward in my last report, still points to the conclusion that Kordofan is comparatively free from anthrax and that the chief sources of infection are the quarantines. On the suggestion of the Director of the Veterinary Department, vaccines are being prepared for the control of anthrax. For this purpose attentuated strains of the anthrax bacilli have been obtained from the Research Laboratory of the Government of the Union of South Africa. From these a standardised vaccine is being prepared for issue when required by the Department. For the cremation of carcases, chiefly in connection with anthrax control, Bostock’s pit was suggested and has answered very well. This method appears to be the ideal method of cremation for the Sudan and might with advantage be adopted generally. Its advantages are :—Economy of fuel. The pit is easily dug and requires no permanent erection. The fire, once alight, requires no attention, complete combustion taking place and the heat is con¬ centrated in the pit. Contagious Bovine Pleuro-pneumonia. The losses from this disease continue to be heavy. The Sudan Plantations Syndicate report the loss of 33 per cent, of