The blood leucocytes in infectious malignant catarrh of the ox and rabbit

Abstract

Summary The results are recorded of repeated examinations of the blood leucocyte picture in eleven cattle and fourteen rabbits infected with a virulent “head-and-eye” strain of bovine infectious malignant catarrh. In cattle there was a progressive leucopenia commencing at about the same time as generalised lymphatic gland enlargement. The leucopenia affected all cell types, but there was a relative mono nucleosis, with the appearance of large primitive cell-types. In one animal which survived 4o days following the first reaction there was recurrent fever with polymorphonuclear leucocytosis. In rabbits the response varied. In nine there was a leucocytosis, in three a mild leucopenic response, in two no significant change in total counts. The leucocytosis was due to large numbers of cells which appeared to be abnormal large lymphocytes. In all cases there was an increasing proportion of non-granular cells during the reaction.