NOSEMA BOBYCIS 577 



Schaudinn has claimed, as previously stated, that Hemoproteus noctuse 

 (the parasite of the owl) develops in the body of Culex pipiens into a 

 flagellate, a trypanosome, or allied organism; but Novy and his 

 co-workers maintain that the flagellates seen by Schaudinn in culex are 

 not a phase in the life cycle of hemoproteus but simply a parasitic 

 flagellate of the insect. 



FIG. 201 



Culex pipiens; adult female. (Howard.) 



MICROSPORIDIA. 



Nosema Bobycis. Nosema, or Glugea bombycis, is the most widely 

 known microsporidium. It is the cause of the silkworm disease, 

 pebrine (French), studied by Pasteur. During the years 1854 to 1867 

 this microorganism is estimated to have caused losses in France 

 amounting to about $200,000,000. The silkworm affection caused 

 by this microsporidium was the first disease studied by Pasteur, and 

 to a large extent conquered by his prophylactic measures. These 

 studies initiated him into the field of preventive medicine, where he 

 later gained such immortal fame. Nosema bombycis, therefore, is a 

 pathogenic organism of great historical interest. It is believed that 

 the caterpillar of the silk moth (Bombyx mori) infects itself with its 

 food with the parasites. The caterpillars, extensively infected, die 

 before they have had an opportunity to form chrysalides inclosed in 

 cocoons of silk. Those less infected can go on to full development 

 37 



