9i SPIROCH.ETOSIS OF SUDANESE FOWLS 



it is impossible to make out any dofinito structure, hut it is concoivaljlo that uauli contains 

 what answers to a nucleus and possibly also some tiny granule corresponding to a 

 blepharoplast. Examination with the highest powers (oil immersion l/12th, comp. oc. 18, 

 with appropriate tul)o length) has only enabled one to note that some show points which 

 stain more deeply than their general substance. They take on tlie chromatin colour 

 strongly and exist in enormous numbers when the infection is at all severe. Tiiis is 

 especially true in the Malpighian tubes, in the tissues of which they lie in densely-packed 

 clumps, though the irregular distribution mentioned by Leishman is strongly in evidence. 

 Wlien the tubes are ruptured on the slide the clumps adhere in masses or break up into 

 single agglomerations or into the individual t^'nuiuh^s of wiiich tiiey ai'e com]ioscd. It 

 is then seen that these latter vary greatly in size as well as in shape. In some of the 

 free clumps every individual granule can be clearly seen, others arc (juite dense and 

 dark, and suggest tlie presence of a stained matrix Imlding tlic granules together. The 

 appearance, however, may merely be due to a somewhat diffuse staining. Like the 

 granules themselves the free clumps vary greatly in size and shape. The smaller ones 

 are often the denser looking. Some are very large and groups of these may occur 

 })aeked close together, but with the outline of cacli absolutely distinct, altlmu'.'h tliere 

 is no evidence of any retaining membrane or capsule. The chromatin colour is niucli 

 better marked in the liberated clumps and granules than in those lying in or on the 

 tissues, for in the latter case the blue background (Leishman or Giemsa) tends to 

 obscure them. It is well, therefore, in every case to lacerate the tissues on the slide 

 before fixing and staining. The granules show up well by the dark-field method, present 

 an active, dancing movement and closely resemble the red cell inclusions of fowls in the 

 earlier stages of the latter. 

 Thp granules (ii) If ticks containing granules are kept in the incubator, at 37° C, in the manner 



assume a devised by Leishman, the granules mav be seen to undergo a change and to assume a 



spirochaetil "^ " i . i. . i t ■ ■ 



form in ticks spirochsBtal iovm. This is confirmatory of Leishman s observations on iS/j. ihilli'iu in 

 kept at 37' C. q jfioubata, though I am not certain that the change is precisely similar or takes place in 



the same position. Moreover, I have some evidence to show that, at the high summer 



temperatures prevailing in the Sudan, this change may occur, at least to some extent, 



without the use of the incubator. 



Example : 



March 16, 1910. Batch of ticks (-•/. persicus) oljtained from a fowl-nm and lieu-house iu Khartoum. 

 Samples examined were; found to be heavily infected with granules. These were specially evident in the 

 Malpighian tubes, and it was also found that in this situation the granules had apparently undergone some 

 development, the weather, at the time, being very hot. In addition to granules, short rods, comma forms, 

 and what suggested minute though stout spirochietes. were present. 



iMnrch 21. Ticks placed in the incubator, at 37° C, along with a dish of water to keep the atmosphere 

 moist. 



Mnreh 29. One adult 9 removed from incubator and examined. Tn the llalijighian tubes there was 

 certainly an appearance which might be construed into a development of young spirochsptes from the 

 granules. A few half-develo])ed eggs were removed from the ovary, smeared sejjarately on slides, and 

 stained. Some showed an excellent granule infection but there were no yoinig spiroclurtc forms. 



The alimentary diverticula and contents exhibited no granules or spirocha-tes. rerhajjs this was duo to 

 tlie fact that 13 days, at least, had elapsed since feeding. 



Small but numerous granule clumps were seen in a smear of the ovary and two small clumps were 

 observed in that of the salivary glands. 



April 4. Adult <J e.xamined. Malpighian tubes alone searched. Heavy granule infection and undoubted 

 evidence of development and change into young spirochirte forms. 



April 13. Adult 9 examined. Malpighian tubes showed tlie above change still more marked. 

 Undoubted spirochicte forms present. The same change, though not so mui^h in evidence, was found in 

 certain parts of the ovary smear. 



The oviduct, which contained spermatozoa, and the salivary glands showed no granules. 



April 14. Two ticks taken and an emulsion made from their salivary glands. This was inoculated 

 into a healthy cock of our own breeding. Up till April 18 the result was negative. The next examination 

 was made on the •23rd, when the cock was found to lie suffering from spirochietosis (iiVc pnije 9,'i). On the 



