Animal industry and veterinary science in eastern New Guinea: World War II to Independence, 1975.

We have described the efforts of the Australian administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea (TPNG) to establish a veterinary service and viable animal industries. These efforts began with planning before the end of World War II in 1945 and continued until independence in 1975. Whereas pre-war cattle had mostly been used to control grass on plantations, post-war, the objective was to use the country's extensive, unoccupied grasslands for cattle production. During this period, the cattle population increased from 4000 to more than 150,000. The greatest success was achieved in herds with crosses of Bos indicus and Bos taurus owned by expatriates. The only serious disease constraint on production was myiasis due to Chrysomya bezziana, a parasite throughout New Guinea and South-east Asia. Attempts were made to increase the productivity of the indigenous pig population. Success was limited by a failure to manage inadequate nutrition and internal parasites and to fully understand the cultural aspects of pig ownership. Similar problems inhibited chicken production in villages. The serious viral infections of pigs and birds were absent from TPNG, but a border with Indonesian Papua represents a potential route for the incursion of animal diseases exotic to both Papua New Guinea and to Australia.

An epidemiological study of trichostrongylidiasis in dairy cattle grazing irrigated pastures.

Trichostrongylid burdens in 1 to 2-year-old dairy heifers were estimated after they grazed with a dairy herd for up to 12 months. Ostertagia ostertagi, Trichostrongylus axei and Cooperia oncophora represented 79.5, 12.7 and 7.8% respectively of all trichostrongylids recovered. The largest burden was 97,000 trichostrongyles with less than 20,000 being the typical burden. Clinical disease was not observed. The strain of O. ostertagi present was capable of inhibition and was not necessarily controlled by anthelmintics. Availability of infective larvae increased with the onset of spring when "modified tracer" calves accumulated up to 30,000 trichostrongyles over intervals of one month. From July to September each year, up to 80% of the Ostertagia burden in these animals were inhibited larvae. Faecal strongyloid egg counts fell from less than an average of 60 eggs per gram to 10 eggs per gram when the heifers were one and 2 years old, respectively. Mature cows continually passed few eggs in their faeces.

A study of acute "short-wind" (pneumonia) in village pigs of Papua New Guinea.

Observations were made over a 12-month period in two villages of the incidence and nature of an acute pneumonia syndrome of village pigs. A detailed ante-mortem and post-mortem examination was made of seven pigs with acute pneumonia, "short-wind". The principal ante-mortem findings were gross malnourished stunted young pigs with severe respiratory embarrassment. Post-mortem examination revealed acute bacterial pneumonia, superimposed on existing chronic enzootic and lungworm pneumonia. No single bacterial species was constantly isolated, Pastuerella spp. and Staphylococcus were the most frequently isolated. The pathogenesis of the disease is discussed. It is suggested that enzootic pneumonia is not a significant limiting factor in traditional pig husbandry. Low nutritional status and heavy nematode infections resulting in increased susceptibility to bacterial pneumonia of pigs are thought to be responsible for the high incidence and mortality from acute pneumonia.

Normal haematological parameters of pigs in Papua New Guinea.

The normal haematological parameters of pure Native and Crossbred Native pigs under intensive management are listed. The values for both groups are within the wide range of normal values for conventional breeds under intensive management. The "normal" haematological values 5-month and 11-month Village pigs are also listed. Compared with the corresponding age group of both pure Native and Crossbred Native pigs, the Village pigs had significantly lower haemoglobin, red blood cell counts and haematocrit values. The cause of the lower values in Village pigs is thought to be due to the malnutrition-parasite complex of Village pigs. The significantly higher leucocyte count of Village pigs is thought to be due to chronic pneumonia and parasitism of the Village pigs.

Some normal biochemical parameters of pigs in Pupua New Guinea.

The normal values of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, serum lactic dehydrogenase and serum alkaline phosphatase, total protein, urea, creatine, cholesterol, glucose, magnesium, calcium and inorganic phosphorus were measured monthly over a 12-month period from 10 "pure" Native and 10 Native X British Crossbred pigs. Except for cholesterol, no significant difference was found between the two groups. Similar estimations were made for 5-month and 11-month Village pigs in which the serum alkaline phosphatase, inorganic phosphorus, total protein, urea, creatinine and calcium were significantly lower when compared with the corresponding age group of the pure Native pigs and Crossbred pigs. These lower values are thought to be due to the effects of the malnutrition-parasite complex of Village pigs.