INCIDENCE OF CYSTZCERCUS OVZS IN SHEEP AND LAMBS AT ALBANY, WEST" AUSTRALIA J. B. WHITE, F.R.C.V.S., F.A.C.V.Sc. Department of Agriculture, Albany, Western Australia, 6330 Introduction
A detailed dissection and careful search was made by
boning room staff on 2 lines of carcases which had The prevalence of Cysticercus ovis in the car- passed routine inspection and were presumed free of cases of sheep has been recorded in England by C . ovis cysfs. All muscle tissue was sliced at intervals of McCleery and Wiggins (1960), in New Zealand 1 to 2 cm and further transverse cuts were made at 90 by Sweatman (1962) and McNab and Robertson degrees. The results are shown in Table 1. From March to June 1971 a record was kept of all (1972). Little work has been done in Australia found during boning and in the subsequent quality to determine its prevalence in sheep even though cysts control check. Included in this study were carcases which it is an important cause of rejection of mutton for had passed routine. inspection and carcases which had the local and export trade (Arundel 1972). been rejected. A rejected carcase is one in whlch from have been found in routine inspections. The Whiting (1972) and Broadbent (1972) both 1 to 4 cysts of 5 or more cysts results in total condemnation. examined sheep from south eastern Australia finding Following the boning of the meat surplus fat or but no information is available from Western blemish is removed after which meat is subject to scrutiny Australia. by officers who observe for quality control. The results are shown in Table 2. This paper records the results of an investiA study was undertaken to determine any relationship gation at Albany and provides information by between the number of sheep found infected with C . which the progress of a control scheme can be ovis within a line and the numbers of cysts found per 100 carcases during boning of that same line. measured.
Matedals and Metbods This study was based on information collected at an abattoir in which sheep from 300 miles east, 100 miles west and 150 miles north of Albany are sent for slaughter. All carcases were subject to the routine inspection for export and it was possible to ascertain the farm of origin of most lines of sheep, The study covered the period March 1970-September 1973 and involved a number of aspects which will be discussed separately. Overall Incidence of C . ovis These results are based on the findings of the inspectors of the Australian Department of Agriculture collected and recorded at the abattoir. The findings at Waroona and Geraldton are also presented. The collection of these statistics commenced on different dates in 1970 depending on the ti.me that the staff of various abattoirs were asked for their co-operation and they were continued until September 1973. The continuous record was broken on 2 occasions owing to the requisite information not being available. The information recorded included the total of sheep killed during the period under review with the prevalence of C. ovis in each line of sheep. The incidence of C . ovis in lambs was collected as for the sheep. No lambs were killed at Waroona between December 1972 and March 1973. This information is presented in the form of a gra h. An assessment was made o f t h e percentage of flocks with C . ovis infected sheep from 3 January 1971 until 13 February 1971. Accuracy of Inspmrion Technique In order to ascertain how. many cysts are overlooked in the course of normal inspection 3 studies were undertaken.
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During January 1972 lines of carcases were selected ,in which the prevalence of C. ovis infected carcases found at normal inspection ranged from high to low. A random sample of not less than 75 carcases from each line was selected for detailed inspection by boning room staff, the method being as in Table 1 except that palpation was also used to detect cysts. The results are shown in Table 3. The incidence of C. ovis and C . tenuicollis was recorded in a number of lines of sheep and lambs by the inspectors of the Australian Department of Agriculture from 15 December 1972 until 26 January 1973. The incidence of hydatid cysts was recorded for some of the sheep and for all of the lambs. Carcases were considered positive for C . tenuicollis on the finding of live cysts or of spots and tracks in the liver indicative of the past presence of C. renuicollis. In order to determine in lambs the percentage of C. ovis cysts which were viable, cysts were collected from 1 August 1970 until 2 August 1972. These cysts came from hearts and diaphragms and were considered viable if they contained clear fluid or a white embryo.
Rewrlts
The total of sheep killed at the various centres are shown with those found infected with C . ovis. Sheep Albany: 1 December 1970 to 30 September 1973 No. of sheep killed 1,001,481. No. with C . ovis 43,623 (4.4%). Waroona: 1 September 1970 to 30 September 1973 No. of sheep killed 313,621. No. with C . ovis 20,189 (6.4%). Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
Geraldton: 1 June 1970 to 30 April 1973 No. of sheep killed 382,826. No. with C. ovis 13,354 (3.5%). Lambs Albany: 1 March 1970 to 30 September 1973 No. of lambs killed 123.798. No. with C. ovis 2,022 (1.6%). Waroona: 1 Seutember 1970 to 30 August 1973 No. of lamb; killed 97.184. No. wit% C. ovis 1,814 (1.9%). Geraldton: 1 December 1970 to 30 Auril 1973 No. of lambs killed 29,222. No. whh C. ovis 244 (0.8%).
The monthly average number of sheep found infected with C. ovis is found in Figure 1 and the monthly average number for lambs is given in Figure 2. This data was compiled from the abattoirs of Albany, Waroona and Geraldton. Of 130 flocks with a total of 37,217 sheep killed, C. ovis infected sheep were found in 126 (96.9%), the range of infected sheep being from 3.0% to 5.3%. Accuracy of Rocrtine Inspection Technique In 57,426 sheep examined by the Australian Department of Agriculture to determine the relative incidence of C. ovis and C. tenuicollis 2,312
FIG 1
SHEEP ALBANYWAROONA
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NO
R E T U R N A V A I L A B L E ______._
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~
J
J
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N
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~
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A
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Figure 1. incidence of Cyslicercus ovis in Sheep at Albany in Western Australia.
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ALBANY-HO
~.~
WAROONA
RETURN AVAILABLE
GERALDTON+---+
4%
3%
r. 17
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I971
1972
1173
Figure 2. Incidence of Cyslicercus ovis in Lambs st Albany in Western Australia.
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
119
N
D
(4.0%) revealed the presence of C. ovis and ther consideration it is felt the 2-year period of 15,123 (26.3%) showed evidence of infection low rainfall may have had considerable influence with C. tenuicollis. The recording of hydatid cysts on the results. in 26,774 of the above sheep showed only 21 The monthly average figures given for lambs (0.1% ) with hydatid cysts. agree with the findings of McNab and Robertson In the case of 3,823 lambs it was possible to (1972) in showing an increase in the percentage relate the results to the farm of origin and to learn of infected lambs as the year proceeds. At Albany how many farms sent in lines of lambs with no and Waroona there is a very marked increase evidence of cysticerci of any kind. Of the 40 within the last 2 months of the season’s “kill”. farms involved lambs from 25 failed to show any This is followed by a swift drop as the new C. ovis although lambs from only 9 farms failed season’s lambs come forward to the abattoirs. It to show C. tenuicollis. Only 486 lambs from 6 is difficult to understand at which period of the flocks failed to show either C. ovis or C . tenui- year the old season’s lambs acquire the infection collis. No hydatid cysts were found in any of these which give rise to this late peak. lambs. Good evidence now exists to show that very A total of 604 cysts recovered from the hearts few eggs of T. ovis present on the paddock survive and diaphragms of lambs were examined and 36 the summer period in Western Australia (White (6.0%) were deemed to be alive. and de Chaneet 1975), (Rickard, White and Boddington unpublished). If this infection occurs Discus The incidence of C. ovis in sheep, at Albany prior to the summer period one would expect it 4.2% and Geraldton 3.5%, is within the range to be revealed earlier, if after the break of the quoted by other authors, 4% Broadbent (1972), season one would expect more evidence of in3.1% Whiting (1972), 5.9% McNab and Robert- fection in the new season’s lambs most of which son (1972). The figure for Waroona of 6.4% is are born during this period. It is possible that high by Australian standards. The sheep killed at colostral immunity may protect the young lambs this abattoir are drawn from a wide area and no which would not apply to the older lambs. explanation is advanced for the high figure. One difficulty experienced in the months of The average mean figure for lambs over the April, May and June of 1973 was the extremely 3-year period is low for all 3 centres, Albany small intake of sheep and lambs being killed. Thus 1.6%, Waroona 1.8% and Geraldton 0.9%, as with only 267 lambs killed at Albany in June against the figure for Victoria 2.2%, Broadbent compared with an average of 2,000 to 3,000 (1972) and for New South Wales 2.0%, Whiting lambs killed, the entry of a line of 75 lambs, 8 of (1972). It is believed that the low incidence at which showed C. ovis, very much distorted the Geraldton is associated with the lower rainfall and average for June. It is not uncommon to find lines higher average temperatures of districts supplying of lambs apparently free of C. ovis cysts but these are offset by lines in which infection rates may that abattoir. rise to 15%. The surveys outlined in Tables 1, 2 In interpreting the charts giving the monthly average it should be realised that the intensity of TABLE 1 inspection was raised considerably in June 1970 following the ban by the United States of America The Number of Carcases Which Had Passed Routine Inspection and Which Contained 1 or More Cysts on the importation of Australian mutton. The figures for sheep show little evidence of any pattern 2 April 8 April Date of Dissection 1971 I971 except a gradual tendency to rise. At some abattoirs the monthly incidence may vary accord- Number of carcases dissected 94 198 ing to the district from which the sheep are being Number of carcases free of cysts 75 157 (79.8%) (79.3%) drawn, while in small abattoirs with a small num14 29 of carcases with 1 cyst ber of inspectors results may be influenced by the Number 4 8 Number of carcases with 2 cysts scheduling of vacations taken by inspectors. 0 0 Number of carcases with 3 cysts 1 3 The monthly average figures given for lambs Number of carcases with 4 cysts 0 1 Number of carcases with 5 cysts fell considerably at Albany and Waroona for the Number of carcases with more first 3 years but made a dramatic rise in the 0 0 than 5 cysts autumn and winter of 1973. Until that t h e the Number of carcases with cysts 19 41 (20.21%) (20.71%) lowered incidence had been hopefully associated with the publicity campaign which had been Total number of cysts 26 62 mounted in the south west of the State. On fur120
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
TABLE 2 Record of AII C . ovis Cysts Found During Routine Boning of Sheep Carcases Including Those Cysts Found ai Qualiiy Control Check for the Period 1 March 1971 Until 30 June 1971 at Albany Abaitoir March
April
May
June
Total
26,674
22,298
32,342
20,948
102,262
2,299 140
2,084 61
3,598 149
2,292 51
10,273 401
10.0 0.4
Total of C . ovis cysts found
1,801
1,243
2,472
2,347
6,863
10.4
Carcases Rejected for Expori Cysts found during the routine boning of these carcases Cysts found by quality control check
1,801
1,243
1,472
2,347
6,863
419 43
271 35
352 26
489 12
1,531 116
22.3 1.7
1,647
24.0
Observation Carcases Which Passed Routine Inspection Cysts found during the routine boning of these carcases Cysts found by quality control check
Total of C . ovis cysts found
and 3 all serve to emphasise the great difficulty of detecting C. ovis during the inspection of carcases, the ultimate finding being clearly related to the intensity of search as stated by Arundel ( 1972). Experience shows the detection of a live cyst prior to an inflammatory reaction by the intermediate host is extremely difficult unless the cyst is situated in heart muscle or diaphragm where it can more easily be seen or palpated. Table 1 is of interest in revealing infection in 20% of carcases having passed inspection and presumed to be free of C. ovis; furthermore, no more than 5 cysts were observed in any one carcase. In the result shown in Table 2 involving 102,262 carcases which had passed routine inspection 10.4 cysts per 100 carcases were found during the routine of the boning room. This agrees closely with 10.3 cysts per 100 carcases recorded by Broadbent (1972). In contrast the result for 6,863 rejected carcases revealed 24.0 cysts per 100 carcases. Therefore, present inspection techniques do prevent a substantial proportion of cysts from being included in mutton for export. The work outlined in Table 3 was undertaken to determine whether lines of sheep with a low
C . ovis Cysts Per 100 Carcases
incidence of infected sheep would have a correspondingly low incidence of undetected cysts in those carcases which had passed normal inspection. If such was the case this method could be employed in the selection of lines of carcases for export. The results in Table 3, however, show no evidence of such a correlation. The very high incidence of C.tenuicollis in the results is a useful indicator of the poor hygiene being exercised on farms in the disposal of offal. As many offals will contain the heart and diaphragm there is a risk of transmitting C . ovis. It is also of interest to conjecture as to the influence these C. tenuicoZZis cysts, a great many of which are alive, may have in shaping the epidemiology of C. ovis infection. In the incidence of live cysts 6.0% in lambs hearts and diaphragms is high as compared with the very low percentage (0.2%) found in adult sheep (Broadbent 1972). It also emphasises the danger of such lamb carcases as a source of infection. Acknowledgments
I wish to acknowledge assistance received from the staff of Messrs Borthwicks and of the Australian Department of Agriculture at Albany Meatworks.
TABLE 3 The Detailed Exatnirintion by Boning Room Siafl of Carcases Which Passed Rouiine Inspection bur Which Came From Lines o f Sheep in Which the Incidence Ranged From 1.9% to 7.9%
No. of Carcases in Line
Date 10 12 13 14 I8 20
January January January January January January
1972 1972 1972 1972 I972 I972
365 261 352 256 203 207
With C. ovis No. % 29 6 9 5 14 4
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
7.9 2.3 2.6 2.0 6.9 1.9
No. of Passed Carcasts in Random Samule 96 75 75 75 75 75
With C. ovis No. Per No. 100 Carcases 15 14 23 13 13 21
15.6 18.7 30.7 17.3 17.3 28.0 121
Summary
A record was made of the prevalence of Cysticereus ovis in sheep and lambs killed at Albany, Waroona and Geraldton from 1970 until 1973. Detailed dissection of 292 carcases which had passed routine inspection revealed C. ovis in 60 ( 2 0 . 5 % ) . A record of all C. ovis cysts found during routine boning of 102,262 carcases which passed normal inspection showed 10.4 cysts per 100 carcases, and in 6,863 carcases rejected for export because of the presence of C. ovis an average of 24.0 cysts per 100 carcases. An attempt was made to relate the incidence of carcases infected with C. ovis in a line of sheep with the incidence of undetected cysts in carcases from that line which had passed routine inspection. No relationship was established. The relative incidence of C. ovis and C. tenuicollis was recorded hi 57,426 sheep to show C. ovis in 2,312 (4.0%) and C. tenuicollis in 15,123
(26.3%).Only 21 (0.1%) sheep in 26,774 were found with hydatid cysts. In 3,823 lambs from 40 farms 486 lambs from 6 farms did not show either C. ovis or C.tenuicoZlis. Lambs from 9 farms did not show C. tenuicollis and lambs from 25 farms did not show C. ovis. In 604 C. ovis cysts from the hearts and diaphragms of lambs, 36 (6.0%) were considered to be alive. References Arundel, J. (1972)-Cysticercosis in Sheep and Cattle. Report by Aust. Meat Research Committee. Broadbent, D. W. (1972)-Aust vet. J . 48: 452. McCleery, E. F. and Wiggins, G. S . (1960)-Ver. Rec. 72: 43. McNab, J. D. and Robertson, T. G. (1972)--N.Z. vet. 1. 20: 66. Sweatman, G. K. (1962)--N.Z. vet. 1. 10: 93. Whiting, R. H. (1972)-Aust. vef. 1. 48: 449. White, J. B. and de Chaneet, G. (1975)-Aust. vet. J. In press. (Received for publication 19 April 1974)
BOOK REVIEW PIONEERS OF FERTILITY “Civilization depends on fertility. History records what happens unless the land is kept in good heart. Babylon and Persia, Assyria and Egypt failed primarily because they failed to understand the basic princioles of agriculture. Where these great nations were once all-powerful there are deserts because they let the land get below the limit of necessary fertility, so that the soil began to wash, or blow, away and cropping became impossible. The history of agriculture is the history of man trying to find means of keeping the soil in good heart while continually taking his food from it.” This quotation comes from “Pioneers of Fertility”? a fascinating book by Porteous written in 1948, which recounts the story of a number of farmers in Great Britain who were innovators - Fitzherbert of Norbury, Thomas Tusser, Walter Blight, Gervase Markham, John Houghton, Mortimer, Jethro Tull, Charles Townsend, Arthur Young, the Dukes of Bedford, Coke of Norfolk, Sir Humphrey Davy, The Drainers, J. J. Mechi, Knight of Exmoor, Justus von Liebig, Wren Hoskins, Sir John Laws, Sir Henry Gilbert, Augustus Voelcker, Robert Elliot, Dr Robert Warington. Australia has seen, and still sees her own “pioneers of fertility” many of whom were graziers who began the “pastoral .revolution” and now reap the harvest of greater carrymg capacity from sown and fertilised pastures. Their story has yet to be told in full but there are parts of it beginning to be recorded. One thinks of those one has known personally - White of Bald Blair, Jeffries of Delegate, Brodribb of Froddey, Watson of Wollogorang, and foremost among them Prell of Gundowringa. In a small book* by. William Bayley is the story which “tells of a life wluch was devoted to the land of Australia, and through it shines the portrait of a man *Gundowringa. William A. Bayley. Gundowdnga Crookwell. N.S.W. The Halstead Press, Sydney. 1951, reirinted 1965. 54 p with numerous photographs.
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of outstanding integrity and character.” It tells of Charles Prell OBE and the development of Gundowringa near Crookwell in New South Wales. I was fortunate to see something of the beginning of the “pastoral revolution” there when in the early 1930’s the then CSIR began field trials directed by the late Sir Ian Clunies ROSS,then Officer-in-Charge of the newly established McMaster Laboratory - and indeed Frederick McMaster of Dalkeith may well also be numbered among the “pioneers of fertility”. The results of the trials are noted in an appendix which shows that wool per acre on natural pasture was but 9 lb 2 oz; it was 34 lb 14 oz on sown pasture. (1. Coun. sci. indusfr. Res., Ausf. 5 : 31, 6: 26, 7: 131.) This small book describes Gundowringa and its develo ment and the challenge it presented to Charles R e f when he went there in the early 19OO’s, to the blossoming abundance he achieved with magnificent pastures, top-.class Corriedales and prime cattle. Perhaps the achievement is best expressed in the title of the fifth chapter - The Hills Rejoice - where the transformation from “the drought batridden land, empty and barren of succour” is recorded. Here is history and inspiration, a story of detennination, of a participation in and with the “great collaborative expertise of science” of the fulfilment of a vision. “The land, enriched by the labours and experiments of Charles Prell, will go down to posterity more fertile than it was when the first white man settled on it.” There is still a Pnll at Gundowringa - the land is still in good hands; as Honorary Librarian of the Max Henry Memorial Library I am grateful for the presentation of the book by Jeff Prell. The book is not to be sold - rather presented where its story is appreciated. H. McL. Gordon Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
A detailed dissection and careful search was made by
boning room staff on 2 lines of carcases which had The prevalence of Cysticercus ovis in the car- passed routine inspection and were presumed free of cases of sheep has been recorded in England by C . ovis cysfs. All muscle tissue was sliced at intervals of McCleery and Wiggins (1960), in New Zealand 1 to 2 cm and further transverse cuts were made at 90 by Sweatman (1962) and McNab and Robertson degrees. The results are shown in Table 1. From March to June 1971 a record was kept of all (1972). Little work has been done in Australia found during boning and in the subsequent quality to determine its prevalence in sheep even though cysts control check. Included in this study were carcases which it is an important cause of rejection of mutton for had passed routine. inspection and carcases which had the local and export trade (Arundel 1972). been rejected. A rejected carcase is one in whlch from have been found in routine inspections. The Whiting (1972) and Broadbent (1972) both 1 to 4 cysts of 5 or more cysts results in total condemnation. examined sheep from south eastern Australia finding Following the boning of the meat surplus fat or but no information is available from Western blemish is removed after which meat is subject to scrutiny Australia. by officers who observe for quality control. The results are shown in Table 2. This paper records the results of an investiA study was undertaken to determine any relationship gation at Albany and provides information by between the number of sheep found infected with C . which the progress of a control scheme can be ovis within a line and the numbers of cysts found per 100 carcases during boning of that same line. measured.
Matedals and Metbods This study was based on information collected at an abattoir in which sheep from 300 miles east, 100 miles west and 150 miles north of Albany are sent for slaughter. All carcases were subject to the routine inspection for export and it was possible to ascertain the farm of origin of most lines of sheep, The study covered the period March 1970-September 1973 and involved a number of aspects which will be discussed separately. Overall Incidence of C . ovis These results are based on the findings of the inspectors of the Australian Department of Agriculture collected and recorded at the abattoir. The findings at Waroona and Geraldton are also presented. The collection of these statistics commenced on different dates in 1970 depending on the ti.me that the staff of various abattoirs were asked for their co-operation and they were continued until September 1973. The continuous record was broken on 2 occasions owing to the requisite information not being available. The information recorded included the total of sheep killed during the period under review with the prevalence of C. ovis in each line of sheep. The incidence of C . ovis in lambs was collected as for the sheep. No lambs were killed at Waroona between December 1972 and March 1973. This information is presented in the form of a gra h. An assessment was made o f t h e percentage of flocks with C . ovis infected sheep from 3 January 1971 until 13 February 1971. Accuracy of Inspmrion Technique In order to ascertain how. many cysts are overlooked in the course of normal inspection 3 studies were undertaken.
118
During January 1972 lines of carcases were selected ,in which the prevalence of C. ovis infected carcases found at normal inspection ranged from high to low. A random sample of not less than 75 carcases from each line was selected for detailed inspection by boning room staff, the method being as in Table 1 except that palpation was also used to detect cysts. The results are shown in Table 3. The incidence of C. ovis and C . tenuicollis was recorded in a number of lines of sheep and lambs by the inspectors of the Australian Department of Agriculture from 15 December 1972 until 26 January 1973. The incidence of hydatid cysts was recorded for some of the sheep and for all of the lambs. Carcases were considered positive for C . tenuicollis on the finding of live cysts or of spots and tracks in the liver indicative of the past presence of C. renuicollis. In order to determine in lambs the percentage of C. ovis cysts which were viable, cysts were collected from 1 August 1970 until 2 August 1972. These cysts came from hearts and diaphragms and were considered viable if they contained clear fluid or a white embryo.
Rewrlts
The total of sheep killed at the various centres are shown with those found infected with C . ovis. Sheep Albany: 1 December 1970 to 30 September 1973 No. of sheep killed 1,001,481. No. with C . ovis 43,623 (4.4%). Waroona: 1 September 1970 to 30 September 1973 No. of sheep killed 313,621. No. with C . ovis 20,189 (6.4%). Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
Geraldton: 1 June 1970 to 30 April 1973 No. of sheep killed 382,826. No. with C. ovis 13,354 (3.5%). Lambs Albany: 1 March 1970 to 30 September 1973 No. of lambs killed 123.798. No. with C. ovis 2,022 (1.6%). Waroona: 1 Seutember 1970 to 30 August 1973 No. of lamb; killed 97.184. No. wit% C. ovis 1,814 (1.9%). Geraldton: 1 December 1970 to 30 Auril 1973 No. of lambs killed 29,222. No. whh C. ovis 244 (0.8%).
The monthly average number of sheep found infected with C. ovis is found in Figure 1 and the monthly average number for lambs is given in Figure 2. This data was compiled from the abattoirs of Albany, Waroona and Geraldton. Of 130 flocks with a total of 37,217 sheep killed, C. ovis infected sheep were found in 126 (96.9%), the range of infected sheep being from 3.0% to 5.3%. Accuracy of Rocrtine Inspection Technique In 57,426 sheep examined by the Australian Department of Agriculture to determine the relative incidence of C. ovis and C. tenuicollis 2,312
FIG 1
SHEEP ALBANYWAROONA
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NO
R E T U R N A V A I L A B L E ______._
N
O
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Figure 1. incidence of Cyslicercus ovis in Sheep at Albany in Western Australia.
-
ALBANY-HO
~.~
WAROONA
RETURN AVAILABLE
GERALDTON+---+
4%
3%
r. 17
I970
I971
1972
1173
Figure 2. Incidence of Cyslicercus ovis in Lambs st Albany in Western Australia.
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
119
N
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(4.0%) revealed the presence of C. ovis and ther consideration it is felt the 2-year period of 15,123 (26.3%) showed evidence of infection low rainfall may have had considerable influence with C. tenuicollis. The recording of hydatid cysts on the results. in 26,774 of the above sheep showed only 21 The monthly average figures given for lambs (0.1% ) with hydatid cysts. agree with the findings of McNab and Robertson In the case of 3,823 lambs it was possible to (1972) in showing an increase in the percentage relate the results to the farm of origin and to learn of infected lambs as the year proceeds. At Albany how many farms sent in lines of lambs with no and Waroona there is a very marked increase evidence of cysticerci of any kind. Of the 40 within the last 2 months of the season’s “kill”. farms involved lambs from 25 failed to show any This is followed by a swift drop as the new C. ovis although lambs from only 9 farms failed season’s lambs come forward to the abattoirs. It to show C. tenuicollis. Only 486 lambs from 6 is difficult to understand at which period of the flocks failed to show either C. ovis or C . tenui- year the old season’s lambs acquire the infection collis. No hydatid cysts were found in any of these which give rise to this late peak. lambs. Good evidence now exists to show that very A total of 604 cysts recovered from the hearts few eggs of T. ovis present on the paddock survive and diaphragms of lambs were examined and 36 the summer period in Western Australia (White (6.0%) were deemed to be alive. and de Chaneet 1975), (Rickard, White and Boddington unpublished). If this infection occurs Discus The incidence of C. ovis in sheep, at Albany prior to the summer period one would expect it 4.2% and Geraldton 3.5%, is within the range to be revealed earlier, if after the break of the quoted by other authors, 4% Broadbent (1972), season one would expect more evidence of in3.1% Whiting (1972), 5.9% McNab and Robert- fection in the new season’s lambs most of which son (1972). The figure for Waroona of 6.4% is are born during this period. It is possible that high by Australian standards. The sheep killed at colostral immunity may protect the young lambs this abattoir are drawn from a wide area and no which would not apply to the older lambs. explanation is advanced for the high figure. One difficulty experienced in the months of The average mean figure for lambs over the April, May and June of 1973 was the extremely 3-year period is low for all 3 centres, Albany small intake of sheep and lambs being killed. Thus 1.6%, Waroona 1.8% and Geraldton 0.9%, as with only 267 lambs killed at Albany in June against the figure for Victoria 2.2%, Broadbent compared with an average of 2,000 to 3,000 (1972) and for New South Wales 2.0%, Whiting lambs killed, the entry of a line of 75 lambs, 8 of (1972). It is believed that the low incidence at which showed C. ovis, very much distorted the Geraldton is associated with the lower rainfall and average for June. It is not uncommon to find lines higher average temperatures of districts supplying of lambs apparently free of C. ovis cysts but these are offset by lines in which infection rates may that abattoir. rise to 15%. The surveys outlined in Tables 1, 2 In interpreting the charts giving the monthly average it should be realised that the intensity of TABLE 1 inspection was raised considerably in June 1970 following the ban by the United States of America The Number of Carcases Which Had Passed Routine Inspection and Which Contained 1 or More Cysts on the importation of Australian mutton. The figures for sheep show little evidence of any pattern 2 April 8 April Date of Dissection 1971 I971 except a gradual tendency to rise. At some abattoirs the monthly incidence may vary accord- Number of carcases dissected 94 198 ing to the district from which the sheep are being Number of carcases free of cysts 75 157 (79.8%) (79.3%) drawn, while in small abattoirs with a small num14 29 of carcases with 1 cyst ber of inspectors results may be influenced by the Number 4 8 Number of carcases with 2 cysts scheduling of vacations taken by inspectors. 0 0 Number of carcases with 3 cysts 1 3 The monthly average figures given for lambs Number of carcases with 4 cysts 0 1 Number of carcases with 5 cysts fell considerably at Albany and Waroona for the Number of carcases with more first 3 years but made a dramatic rise in the 0 0 than 5 cysts autumn and winter of 1973. Until that t h e the Number of carcases with cysts 19 41 (20.21%) (20.71%) lowered incidence had been hopefully associated with the publicity campaign which had been Total number of cysts 26 62 mounted in the south west of the State. On fur120
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
TABLE 2 Record of AII C . ovis Cysts Found During Routine Boning of Sheep Carcases Including Those Cysts Found ai Qualiiy Control Check for the Period 1 March 1971 Until 30 June 1971 at Albany Abaitoir March
April
May
June
Total
26,674
22,298
32,342
20,948
102,262
2,299 140
2,084 61
3,598 149
2,292 51
10,273 401
10.0 0.4
Total of C . ovis cysts found
1,801
1,243
2,472
2,347
6,863
10.4
Carcases Rejected for Expori Cysts found during the routine boning of these carcases Cysts found by quality control check
1,801
1,243
1,472
2,347
6,863
419 43
271 35
352 26
489 12
1,531 116
22.3 1.7
1,647
24.0
Observation Carcases Which Passed Routine Inspection Cysts found during the routine boning of these carcases Cysts found by quality control check
Total of C . ovis cysts found
and 3 all serve to emphasise the great difficulty of detecting C. ovis during the inspection of carcases, the ultimate finding being clearly related to the intensity of search as stated by Arundel ( 1972). Experience shows the detection of a live cyst prior to an inflammatory reaction by the intermediate host is extremely difficult unless the cyst is situated in heart muscle or diaphragm where it can more easily be seen or palpated. Table 1 is of interest in revealing infection in 20% of carcases having passed inspection and presumed to be free of C. ovis; furthermore, no more than 5 cysts were observed in any one carcase. In the result shown in Table 2 involving 102,262 carcases which had passed routine inspection 10.4 cysts per 100 carcases were found during the routine of the boning room. This agrees closely with 10.3 cysts per 100 carcases recorded by Broadbent (1972). In contrast the result for 6,863 rejected carcases revealed 24.0 cysts per 100 carcases. Therefore, present inspection techniques do prevent a substantial proportion of cysts from being included in mutton for export. The work outlined in Table 3 was undertaken to determine whether lines of sheep with a low
C . ovis Cysts Per 100 Carcases
incidence of infected sheep would have a correspondingly low incidence of undetected cysts in those carcases which had passed normal inspection. If such was the case this method could be employed in the selection of lines of carcases for export. The results in Table 3, however, show no evidence of such a correlation. The very high incidence of C.tenuicollis in the results is a useful indicator of the poor hygiene being exercised on farms in the disposal of offal. As many offals will contain the heart and diaphragm there is a risk of transmitting C . ovis. It is also of interest to conjecture as to the influence these C. tenuicoZZis cysts, a great many of which are alive, may have in shaping the epidemiology of C. ovis infection. In the incidence of live cysts 6.0% in lambs hearts and diaphragms is high as compared with the very low percentage (0.2%) found in adult sheep (Broadbent 1972). It also emphasises the danger of such lamb carcases as a source of infection. Acknowledgments
I wish to acknowledge assistance received from the staff of Messrs Borthwicks and of the Australian Department of Agriculture at Albany Meatworks.
TABLE 3 The Detailed Exatnirintion by Boning Room Siafl of Carcases Which Passed Rouiine Inspection bur Which Came From Lines o f Sheep in Which the Incidence Ranged From 1.9% to 7.9%
No. of Carcases in Line
Date 10 12 13 14 I8 20
January January January January January January
1972 1972 1972 1972 I972 I972
365 261 352 256 203 207
With C. ovis No. % 29 6 9 5 14 4
Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
7.9 2.3 2.6 2.0 6.9 1.9
No. of Passed Carcasts in Random Samule 96 75 75 75 75 75
With C. ovis No. Per No. 100 Carcases 15 14 23 13 13 21
15.6 18.7 30.7 17.3 17.3 28.0 121
Summary
A record was made of the prevalence of Cysticereus ovis in sheep and lambs killed at Albany, Waroona and Geraldton from 1970 until 1973. Detailed dissection of 292 carcases which had passed routine inspection revealed C. ovis in 60 ( 2 0 . 5 % ) . A record of all C. ovis cysts found during routine boning of 102,262 carcases which passed normal inspection showed 10.4 cysts per 100 carcases, and in 6,863 carcases rejected for export because of the presence of C. ovis an average of 24.0 cysts per 100 carcases. An attempt was made to relate the incidence of carcases infected with C. ovis in a line of sheep with the incidence of undetected cysts in carcases from that line which had passed routine inspection. No relationship was established. The relative incidence of C. ovis and C. tenuicollis was recorded hi 57,426 sheep to show C. ovis in 2,312 (4.0%) and C. tenuicollis in 15,123
(26.3%).Only 21 (0.1%) sheep in 26,774 were found with hydatid cysts. In 3,823 lambs from 40 farms 486 lambs from 6 farms did not show either C. ovis or C.tenuicoZlis. Lambs from 9 farms did not show C. tenuicollis and lambs from 25 farms did not show C. ovis. In 604 C. ovis cysts from the hearts and diaphragms of lambs, 36 (6.0%) were considered to be alive. References Arundel, J. (1972)-Cysticercosis in Sheep and Cattle. Report by Aust. Meat Research Committee. Broadbent, D. W. (1972)-Aust vet. J . 48: 452. McCleery, E. F. and Wiggins, G. S . (1960)-Ver. Rec. 72: 43. McNab, J. D. and Robertson, T. G. (1972)--N.Z. vet. 1. 20: 66. Sweatman, G. K. (1962)--N.Z. vet. 1. 10: 93. Whiting, R. H. (1972)-Aust. vef. 1. 48: 449. White, J. B. and de Chaneet, G. (1975)-Aust. vet. J. In press. (Received for publication 19 April 1974)
BOOK REVIEW PIONEERS OF FERTILITY “Civilization depends on fertility. History records what happens unless the land is kept in good heart. Babylon and Persia, Assyria and Egypt failed primarily because they failed to understand the basic princioles of agriculture. Where these great nations were once all-powerful there are deserts because they let the land get below the limit of necessary fertility, so that the soil began to wash, or blow, away and cropping became impossible. The history of agriculture is the history of man trying to find means of keeping the soil in good heart while continually taking his food from it.” This quotation comes from “Pioneers of Fertility”? a fascinating book by Porteous written in 1948, which recounts the story of a number of farmers in Great Britain who were innovators - Fitzherbert of Norbury, Thomas Tusser, Walter Blight, Gervase Markham, John Houghton, Mortimer, Jethro Tull, Charles Townsend, Arthur Young, the Dukes of Bedford, Coke of Norfolk, Sir Humphrey Davy, The Drainers, J. J. Mechi, Knight of Exmoor, Justus von Liebig, Wren Hoskins, Sir John Laws, Sir Henry Gilbert, Augustus Voelcker, Robert Elliot, Dr Robert Warington. Australia has seen, and still sees her own “pioneers of fertility” many of whom were graziers who began the “pastoral .revolution” and now reap the harvest of greater carrymg capacity from sown and fertilised pastures. Their story has yet to be told in full but there are parts of it beginning to be recorded. One thinks of those one has known personally - White of Bald Blair, Jeffries of Delegate, Brodribb of Froddey, Watson of Wollogorang, and foremost among them Prell of Gundowringa. In a small book* by. William Bayley is the story which “tells of a life wluch was devoted to the land of Australia, and through it shines the portrait of a man *Gundowringa. William A. Bayley. Gundowdnga Crookwell. N.S.W. The Halstead Press, Sydney. 1951, reirinted 1965. 54 p with numerous photographs.
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of outstanding integrity and character.” It tells of Charles Prell OBE and the development of Gundowringa near Crookwell in New South Wales. I was fortunate to see something of the beginning of the “pastoral revolution” there when in the early 1930’s the then CSIR began field trials directed by the late Sir Ian Clunies ROSS,then Officer-in-Charge of the newly established McMaster Laboratory - and indeed Frederick McMaster of Dalkeith may well also be numbered among the “pioneers of fertility”. The results of the trials are noted in an appendix which shows that wool per acre on natural pasture was but 9 lb 2 oz; it was 34 lb 14 oz on sown pasture. (1. Coun. sci. indusfr. Res., Ausf. 5 : 31, 6: 26, 7: 131.) This small book describes Gundowringa and its develo ment and the challenge it presented to Charles R e f when he went there in the early 19OO’s, to the blossoming abundance he achieved with magnificent pastures, top-.class Corriedales and prime cattle. Perhaps the achievement is best expressed in the title of the fifth chapter - The Hills Rejoice - where the transformation from “the drought batridden land, empty and barren of succour” is recorded. Here is history and inspiration, a story of detennination, of a participation in and with the “great collaborative expertise of science” of the fulfilment of a vision. “The land, enriched by the labours and experiments of Charles Prell, will go down to posterity more fertile than it was when the first white man settled on it.” There is still a Pnll at Gundowringa - the land is still in good hands; as Honorary Librarian of the Max Henry Memorial Library I am grateful for the presentation of the book by Jeff Prell. The book is not to be sold - rather presented where its story is appreciated. H. McL. Gordon Australian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 52, March, 1976
