MICROBIOLOGY OF HIBERNATION IN GROUND SQUIRRELS 



DISCUSSION 



REINHARD: How much fecal material and ingesta remains 

 in the gastrointestinal tract of these hibernating animals? 



SCHMIDT: Generally the stomach is empty. This is follow- 

 ing prolonged periods, and as I mentioned, they do not eat, 

 usually, during the periods of arousal. This has been investi- 

 gated by certain workers from the histological standpoint, and 

 so on. Their stomachs are usually empty, although there will 

 be fecal material remaining in the intestinal tract, and they 

 do defecate when they wake up. 



REINHARD: Is this a considerable amount throughout the in- 

 testinal tract? 



SCHMIDT: I don't know what you would call considerable. Our 

 samples are usually about 1 gm, 



REINHARD: Has anybody investigated bacterial activity in the 

 intestine in relation to the possible production of materials 

 which could serve as sources of energy to the host, when ab- 

 sorbed? 



SCHMIDT: No, as far as I know, but I think the source of energy 

 is the brown fat. 



BERRY: Does the total amount of fecal material discharged 

 by the control animals that get rid of the virus in three or four 

 days equal the total amount of fecal material of the hibernating 

 animals which require eighteen days to eliminate the virus? 



SCHMIDT: I am not sure I understand you. 



BERRY: This would give some measure of digestive tract 

 motility. 



SCHMIDT: Yes, it is my feeling that this virus is taking a 



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