INFLUENZA BACILLUS 14! 



pearly white, becoming yellow. In bouillon it produces turbidity, 

 with a flocculent deposit. No pellicle is formed. On potato an 

 invisible growth occurs. Milk is not coagulated, nor are acids or 

 gases produced. 



Pathogenesis. It causes in man, Malta fever. Rabbits, guinea 

 pigs, and mice are not susceptible to inoculation, but the disease 

 can be produced in monkeys. 



Agglutination. The serum from an individual suffering from 

 Malta Fever agglutinates the bacilli, even in dilutions as high as 

 i-ioo. 



Diagnosis of the disease can be effected by the agglutination 

 test, and by splenic puncture, and blood cultures. 



It is present in the blood and is excreted via the urine and milk. 

 The goat while not suffering with malta fever can carry the germs 

 in its body and excrete them in the milk. Goats' milk is a general 

 food in Malta. The inference is obvious. Flies may transmit the 

 bacilli. 



INFLUENZA BACILLUS. 



Bacterium Influenzae. 



Influenza bacillus. 



Morphology and Stains. Very small short rods -which are often 

 in pairs, found within epithelial and pus cells, and in sputum; from 

 40 to 80 in a cell. Sometimes found chain-like. No flagella or 

 spores are formed. Stains weakly. Carbol fuchsin, diluted, gives 

 the best result. The ends of the bacillus stain more deeply than do 

 the rest of the cell. It is decolorized by Gram's stain. 



Oxygen Requirements. It is a strict aerobe. 



Cultures grow best on blood smeared agar, or in blood bouillon 

 between 27 C. and 41 C. ; best at 37 C. Blood or haemoglobin is 

 required for all cultures. In bouillon it grows in thin white 

 flocculi. On agar in small transparent "dewdrop" colonies, 

 never luxuriantly. Grown in the same culture with Staphylo coccus 



