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Caseous Lymphadenitis. This disease, sometimes called
" pseudo-tuberculosis" occurs mainly in sheep although it is
occasionally found in cattle, rabbits and chickens. It is met
usually in imported sheep carcases and is often the cause of meat
being rejected as unfit for human consumption.
Results of examinations for caseous lymphadenitis are given
below
Landed Examined Rejected Weight
New Zealand Sheep 54,231 523 — —
Groundnuts—Presence of Aflatoxin.—In Britain, during I960,
a large number of turkeys died from an unknown cause. Investigations revealed that they had been fed on a groundnut meal
which contained a toxic factor arising from a mould Aspergillus
flavus and this has been named Aflatoxin. Young animals were
also found to be susceptible to the toxin.
The presence of Aflatoxin appears to develop after the nuts
have been lifted and seems to be proportional to the discolouration,
amount of damage to the shell and speed of drying. Aflatoxin also
shows itself in cases where storage and transport have occurred
in conditions of high temperature and humidity.
Peanuts in shell arrive in this country mainly from Ethiopia,
Eritrea, Libya and India but most eastern Mediterranean countries
are known to trade in this commodity.
During the year, 30 samples were taken, four of which were
reported upon as containing Aflatoxin. Details of these samples
are to be found in the list of "non-genuine" samples appended at
the end of this section.
The Eggs (Marking and Storage) Regulations, 1965.—One
application for the cold storage of eggs was received and registered
during the year.