BACILLUS PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS GROUP 243 



It is probable that this organism is identical with the Bacillus 

 pseudotuberculosis discussed above or at least closely related to 

 it. It has been isolated from cattle by several investigators. 



Distribution. This organism has been reported both from this 

 country and Europe. 



Morphology and Staining. This organism resembles the Bacil- 

 lus pseudotuberculosis in many respects, but is somewhat larger 

 0.7 by 2 to 3.8 /^. It is sometimes granular, and produces clubbed 

 or even branched forms. It is quite commonly bent. It is non- 

 motile, does not produce spores or capsules. It stains readily 

 with the common anilin dyes, and is gram-positive. 



Isolation and Culture. The organism may be isolated in pure 

 culture from infected lymph-nodes or other lesions directly upon 

 agar. Agar slants show discrete, grayish-white colonies that 

 never become large. From the periphery of some of these colonies 

 short filaments radiate into the agar. Bouillon remains clear, and 

 a distinct sediment forms. 



Physiology. This organism tends to die out quickly in arti- 

 ficial media. It is aerobic. No acids nor gas are produced from 

 carbohydrates. 



Pathogenesis. Our knowledge of the pathogenesis of this 

 organism is not in a satisfactory state. It has been isolated from 

 chronic bronchopneumonia in cattle and from various other 

 secondary and metastatic infections. It has also been found asso- 

 ciated with pyelonephritis. This latter infection is marked by 

 enlargement of the kidneys and a purulent inflammation of the 

 lining mucous membranes of the ureters and bladder. The in- 

 flammation may cause necrosis of the tissues. When injected 

 into guinea-pigs or mice, suppuration may be induced. 



Immunity. Nothing is known relative to the metabolic prod- 

 ucts of the organism or of methods of either passive or active 

 immunization. 



Bacteriologic Diagnosis. The presence of the organism may 

 be demonstrated by the use of Gram's stain and by pure culture 

 methods. 



Transmission. The infection atria are probably the respiratory 

 tract in lung infection and the genito-urinary organs, particularly 

 in the female following parturition. 



