[Pboc. Eoy. Soc. Victoria, 24 (N.S.), Pt. II., 1911.] 



Akt. XXYIU.— Enteritis, Associated ivith Infection of the 

 Intestinal Wall by Cyst-forming Protozoa (Neo- 

 sporiclia), Occurring in certain Native Animals 

 (Wallaby, Kangaroo and Wombat). 



By J. A. GILRUTH, D.V.Sc, M.R.O.V.S., F.R.S.E. 



(Professor of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Research 

 Institute, Melbourne University), 



AND 



L. B. BULL, L.V.Sc. 



(Government Research Scholar). 



(With Plates LXXII-LXXXI.). 

 [Read 14th December, 1911]. 



For some considerable period post-mortem examinations have 

 been made at the University Veterinary Institute of the majority 

 of native animals which have died at the Zoological Gardens, 

 Melbourne. Quite recently several cases of more or less acute 

 enteritis, evidently the immediate cause of death, have been 

 observed, and in each of these extensive invasion of the mucosa 

 or submucO'Sa by protozoa has been detected on microscopical 

 examination. 



As will be seen, the protozoan infection in all cases, with the 

 exception of one wallaby, was very extensive, and must have 

 been in existence for a considerable period prior to death. 

 Obviously, therefore, to this infection the acute inflammation 

 cannot be entirely attributed. It is especially worthy of note 

 that in every instance the animal was a recent arrival at the 

 Zoological Gardens, having been captured, conveyed to Mel- 

 bourne, and delivered apparently in normal health. Probably 

 the confinement, coupled with the drastic change of food and 

 environment, enabled bacteria to invade the damaged and 

 weakened intestinal wall, and so established the acute enteritis, 

 the immediate cause of death, for even in those cases where post- 



