Other Diseases Transmitted by Insects 171 



other species are also concerned. If it is true that 

 the parasite can be carried by several different 

 species of mosquitoes this would account very 

 largely for its rapid spread wherever it is intro- 

 duced into a community. Where it occurs outside 

 the tropics it is only in the warm summer months 

 when mosquitoes are always abundant. 



MALTA OR MEDITERRANEAN FEVER 



This is also a tropical and subtropical disease 

 that occasionally gets up into the temperate region, 

 sometimes occurring in the United States. The 

 fever begins with a severe headache, and other 

 symptoms follow. It is usually of the remittent 

 type and may continue for some months. 



It is caused by minute bacteria {Micrococcus 

 melitensis) and is a very infectious but not usually 

 contagious disease. The germ is readily conveyed 

 by inoculation, and several investigators have 

 sought to show that the mosquito often serves as 

 the inoculating agent. The disease is especially 

 prevalent during the mosquito season, and has 

 twice been conveyed to monkeys by infected in- 

 sects. 



LEPROSY 



This loathsome disease has long been known to 

 be caused by a particular bacillus {Bacillus lepra), 



