the invasion of animal parasites by bacteria
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ABSTRACTS AND REPORT.
parasites. Contrary to what has he en observed in other birds, no spindleshaped parasites have been seen in the ostrich. A table is given showing the results of blood examination of a number of birds. The author draws the following conclusions from his investigations: (1) The leucocytozoon is not found in old ostriches; (2) the youngest chicks found to be infected were four weeks old and the oldest seven months; (3) as the deaths did not occur at all farms, and as the presence of leucocytozoon was not demonstrated on all farms, it is impossible at the present moment to declare that this parasite is the cause of the disease. The author suggests the name leucocytozoon struthionis for the parasite. (Walker, Zeitschr.f. Inf!ktionskr. usw. d. Haust., Vol. XII., No. 4, 26th November 1912, pp. 37 2-375.)
THE INVASION OF ANIMAL PARASITES BY BACTERIA.
DURING the process of testing swine·erysipelas serum on mice inexplicable results are often observed, in that animals receiving large doses of serum die of swine erysipelas while others receiving " smaller doses survive. The author undertook the examination of such mice. Of thirty·eight animals which received a dose of '01 to '015 cc. of serum and '01 of culture, and which died, sixteen were found to he the hosts of cysticercus fasciolaris. Microscopic examination showed that in every case large numbers of swineerysipelas bacilli were present in the scolex and in the fluid contained in the cyst, and the organism could be obtained from these in pure culture. Mice which were infected with the bacilli cultivated in this way died of swine erysipelas in two days. In one case a cysticercus was triturated with 2 cc. of physiological salt solution, 1 cc. of which was injected into a mouse. Death occurred from swine erysipelas on the third day. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether the bacilli multiply within the parasite and re-infect the host.
In three cases ascarides were found in the stomach and intestine of swine-erysipelas mice. These were triturated with salt solution and injected into other mice. Death did not occur, although swine-erysipelas bacilli were demonstrated microscopically.
In one mouse which had been inoculated with the bacillus suisepticus six specimens of cysticercus fasciolaris were found in the liver. The bacilli were found in each of these, and when used for the inoculation of other mice showed an exalted virulence. A dose of '00001 cc. of fluid from the cyst killed a white mouse in eight hours. In the case of mouse typhoid the virulence of the organisms cultivated from the cysticerci remained constant. Two specimens of cysticercus fasciolaris were found in a white mouse inoculated with the streptococcus of strangles, and died within four hours. Microscopic examination showed that the parasites contained streptococci, but there was marked decrease in virulence. In another case strangles streptococci cultivated from a cysticercus had completely lost their virulence (Friedrich, Zeitschr. f. Infektionskr. usw. d. Haltst., Vol. XI!., NO.4, 26th November 1912, pp. 385-386.)
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