PROTOZOA IN BRITISH EAST AFRICA 
25 
the mud, wood work or masonry of the infected building. 
They are rarely found in the open. Argus miniatus is respon- 
sible for the transmission of this disease in South America, and 
Argus persicus in Northern India. It is possible that the 
closely allied genus Ornithodorus which is represented in 
Uganda and East Africa by 0. moubata (the tick carrying the 
Spirillum fever of man) may also serve as a carrier. 
Pathogenesis. Sp. gallinarum is the cause of serious epide- 
mics among poultry, especially imported birds, in Brazil and 
India. The disease is very rapid and fatal in most outbreaks, 
the discovery of dead birds being frequently the first indication 
of its existence. 1 
Distribution. South America (Brazil), India, Soudan, 
Southern Rhodesia, Australia. I have seen one case of a bird 
dead in Nairobi, which showed Spirochaeta, possibly this 
species. The existence of S'p. gallinarum to our north and 
south renders it the more probable that it occurs in this 
Protectorate. 
The family Spirochaetida also includes the species Tre- 
ponema pallida, the cause of Syphilis, and Sp. duttoni, the cause 
of human relapsing fever in Africa or Uganda tick fever. It is 
in connexion with these diseases that Ehrlich and Hatta have 
introduced the drug (Diamino-dioxy-arsenobenzol) more 
popularly known as ‘ 606,’ the curative action of which, so far 
as at present ascertained, may almost be considered specific. 
As a preventive it is probably of less avail. 
Order, Trypanosomatida. 
Genus, Trypanosoma. Gruby, 1843. 
The species found in mammals of this Protectorate have 
not yet been defined, but it appears probable that at least 
four must be recognised : — 
T. gambiense. Dutton. T. vivax. Ziemann. 
T.dimorphon. Dutton & Todd. T.lewesi. Kent. 
Additional observations will no doubt declare the existence 
of members of the genus in birds and fish. 
1 See Wellcome Research Lab. Reports, vol. ii., for description of disease 
among fowls in Soudan caused by this or an allied Spirochaeta. 
