PARASITES AND DISEASE (VEGETABLE PARASITES) 183 

 MALTA FEVER 



Definition. An endemic infectious disease due to the 

 Micrococcus melitensis, characterized by irregular fever, 

 sweats, arthritis, and enlarged spleen. 



Etiology. While it is believed that this infection may 

 be transmitted by mosquito bites, the usual mode of 

 infection is the drinking of the milk of goats which are 

 infected. The milk abounds with the germs, and mon- 

 keys have been infected with milk containing the organ- 

 ism. 



Morbid Anatomy. There are no characteristic ana- 

 tomic changes in this disease. 



