Arcellidae 91 



(Hegner, 1929). They indicate that infections may be set up easily in 

 the cecum with a number of species of Amoebae, flagellates, and ciliates. 

 Some of the infections continued for over 6 months and apparently would 

 have remained indefinitely. Among the Protozoa used were Trichomonas 

 hominis from the human intestine and T. buccalis from the human 

 mouth. These were maintained in chickens for over 4 months when the 

 experiments were terminated. 



One of the most interesting results of the experiments was the dis- 

 covery that the chick may be used as a sort of in vivo test tube for the 

 cultivation of intestinal Protozoa. For example, cecal material from a 

 guinea-fowl which was found by the ordinary smear method to contain 

 a very few trichomonads was injected per rectum into chicks. Two days 

 later large numbers of trichomonads, Chilomastix, and Endolimax 

 amoebae were present in cecal material evacuated by the chicks. The 

 trichomonads appeared to belong to two or three different species. On 

 the third day the trophozoites of a large Endamoeba were found. 



This work indicates that Protozoa too few in number to be found in 

 smears made from the cecal contents of birds such as guinea-fowls, ducks, 

 and geese grow and multiply so rapidly when inoculated into parasite- 

 free chicks that they may not only be demonstrated without difficulty 

 but may be secured in sufficient numbers to prepare permanent slides for 

 the detailed study of their morphology. Data already obtained by the 

 use of fecal material from other animals inoculated into chicks suggest 

 that this method of cultivating intestinal Protozoa in vivo in chicks may 

 be extended to include species from other types of animals, especially 

 mammals. 



Bibliography 



Hegner, R. W. 1929. Transmission of intestinal Protozoa from man and animals to 

 parasite-free fowls. Amer. J. Hyg. 9:529. 



Order testacea, Family arcellidae 



A METHOD OF CULTURING ARCELLAE 

 E. D. Miller, University of Virginia 



A WHEAT medium has been found to be very well adapted for cul- 

 turing the Arcellae. This is prepared by bringing 300 cc. of 

 distilled water to a boil and introducing 15 selected grains of wheat, 

 after which the material is set aside to cool. After 24 hours all except 

 5 grains are removed. The medium is not used for culture purposes for 

 another 24 hours. During the 48 hours sufficient bacteria have accumu- 

 lated to serve as food material. 



