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A total of 458 cows, oxen, and calves (up to the second year of age) were studied over the 1971-1973 period. The animals were slaughtered at the abattoir of the town of Bourgas, originating from 59 communities on the territory of Bourgas district where the field and feeding conditions varied. Samples were taken from the gullet, tongue, pharynx, diaphragm, cervical muscles, and heart, using the compression slide method to demonstrate the presence of microcysts. Sarcosporidia were found in 398 animals as follows: cows and oxen involved--99.11 per cent; calves--75.53 per cent. The average value for the whole group was 86.89 per cent. Lowest were the cases of parasitic infection in calves that were raised indoors, with lowest parasite burden in the animals involved. On the other hand, highest microcyst burden was found in calves that had been kept in mountainous grasslands. No differences were found in the extent of parasite infection between the animals of the two sexes. More severe was the infection in animals in the individual microregions (communities) and the mountainous region as a whole, and it was lowest in animals in the plain region of the district. Both the percentage of animals involved and the parasite burden showed year-to-year variations. Microcysts were observed in all investigated organs. The heart muscle was most frequently involved in all affected animals, showing also highest parasite burden. Lowest were the values concerning the skeletal musculature (cervical muscles). The data of the investigation are given in three tables.

The dynamic of the morphologic changes taking place in the viscera of lambs was followed up in lambs with an experimental Cysticercus ovis infection. The tests were carried out with 6 two-month-old lambs infected with 30,000 ova of Taenia ovis each. The animals were killed on the 2nd, 4th, 12th, 54th, and 70th day of infection, taking notes on the gross and microscopic changes in the internal organs. It was found that in the predilection sites of localization the migrating oncospheres were transformed into cysticerci around which specific granuloma were formed from the center to the periphery, consisting of eosinophile leukocytes, epitheloid and gigantic cells, lymphocytes, lymphoid cells, and outermost--a connective tissue capsule. As the result of the abundant leukocyte infiltration the cysticerci quickly perished and a suppurant was formed instead that later on was replaced by connective tissue.

Experiments were carried out with six 2-month-old lambs infected experimentally with 30,000 T. ovis ova each. It was found that with slightly infected lambs there were no deviations in the normal state of the animals and their ECG telemetry. Morphologically, there were sporadic cysticerci. With strong infections the disease was found to run its course with apparently manifested clinical signs: depressed general condition, lowered appetite, profuse salivation, lacrimation, pollakisuria, high temperature, and high pulse and heart rates. Electrocardiographically, essential changes were recorded in the elements characterizing myocardial infarction. Morphologically and histopathologically, beside cysticerci in the heart and skeletal muscles there were necrotic foci, hyalin-dystrophic and necrotic and lytic areas.