13G CHEMISTRY OF THE ANIMAL PARASITES 



ment and the fact that their metabolism is carried out anaerobically 

 may account for the character of the products (fatt}- acids, etc.)- 



The intoxication of trichinosis probably is the combined result of 

 the products of the metabolism of the parasites, the products of muscle 

 disintegration, and perhaps also of anaphylactic reaction to the pro- 

 teins of the parasite and the altered muscle proteins. As evidence of 

 the anaphylactic condition is the conspicuous eosinophilia, which we 

 know is often the result of anaphylactic intoxication.^^ Metabolism 

 studies show a preliminar}^ nitrogen, creatinine and purine retention, 

 followed by excessive loss of all three. There is also an intense diazo 

 reaction, and increased excretion of lactic and organic acids. The 

 hypothesis that bacterial invasion is responsible for the intoxication 

 of trichinosis does not seem to be well supported (Herrick, Gruber). 



The serum of infected animals is not toxic, and does not protect 

 against infection with trichinella (Gruber'"). Salzer,^^ however, 

 found that the serum of recovered patients had a curative effect in 

 persons acutely intoxicated with trichiniasis, and also a marked pro- 

 phylactic effect in experimental animals ;^2 it removed the eosinophilia 

 both in men and animals. He also observed evidence of a reduction 

 of the bilirubin of the feces by the trichinae, so that the stools were 

 clay colored without icterus. Positive complement fixation reactions 

 are given by the serum of trichinella infected persons." 



Uncinaria duodenalis, which has for its chief effect the production 

 of a severe anemia, seems to cause this anemia by producing repeated 

 small hemorrhages rather than by any toxic action. The abundance 

 of this loss of blood is explained by L. Loeb^'* as due to the presence, 

 in the anterior portion of the parasite (they studied Ankijlostoma 

 caninum.), of a substance that inhibits the coagulation of the blood. 



However, Preti^^ would ascribe importance to a lipoidal or lijund- 

 like hemolytic constituent of the parasitic tissues of the European 

 ankylostoma, but Whipple, ''" who has observed a weak hemolysin in 

 the American hook worm, considers it too ineffective to be of practical 

 importance. In Sclerosto7na equinwn, however. Bondonoy''^ found 

 active hemolj^tic agents, ascribed by him to lipase; also a ptomain, an 

 alkaloid and other substances. Corresponding to Flury's analyses 

 of ascaris, he found that the cuticle is albuminoid and not chitinous, 



"' See Hcrrick, Jour. Amer. Metl. Assoc, 1915 (65). 1870; Schwartz, Ergeb. 

 allg. Pathol., 1914 (17), 136. 



'» Miinch. mod. Woch., 1914 (61), 645. 



" Jour. Amer. Med. As-.soi\, 1916 (67), 579. 



" Not oorrohonilcd by Schwartz, Jour. Auum'. Mvd. Assoc, 1917 (69), 884; 

 or Hall and Wi^dor, Arcli. Int. Med., 191S (22), 601. 



"Stroebel, Munch, ined. Woch., 1911 (.")S), 672. 



'UVnt. f. Hukt., 1904 (37), 93; 1906 (40), 740; IahA> ami FloLscher, Jour. 

 Infec. i)i.s., 1910 (7), ()25. 



" Miinch. incd. Woch., 1908 (55), 436. 



'"Jour. K\\). Med., 1909 (11), 331. 



" .Vrch. Parasitol., 1910 (14), 5; see also Ashcrolt, C'onipt. Jientl. Soc. Biol., 

 1914 (77), 442. 



