Notes on a protozoon parasite found in the 
mucous membrane of the abomasum of a sheep 
By J. A. GILRUTH. 
l'iie parasite was encountered duriiig' an investigation into the 
cause ot a disease of the Braxy group affecting Tasmanian sheep, 
for which 1 hâve in a report to tlie Minister for Agriculture in 
lhat State suggested the name <( Malignant Transudation ». This 
parasite however appeared to hâve no pathogenic significance. 
il was encountered in sections of a portion of stomach wall, show- 
ing necrosis and ulcération, but in the ('omparativelv healthy 
a rea. 
lA the naked eve no evidence of its présence can be detected 
even at first sight in the sections. Altliough situated in the mu- 
cosa it does not cause an\" discerniljle élévation. It was therefore 
encountered pureh' hv accident, and unfortunately only three 
se'ctions (nit of a large number mounted show its presence. 
Description. — A minute cvst composed of a very délicate 
faintlv laminated cvst wall enclosing groups of sporozoites. 
d'he cvst is somewhat oval, the long diameter being in the di¬ 
rection of the gastric glands. It measures 0,5 mm. by 0,3 mm. 
The contents consist of masses of small sporozoites arranged 
radiallv around a minute portion of residual protoplasm. Each 
sporozoite is about 4 to 6 3 long and 0,5 4 broad. Dis- 
tinctlv spindle shaped with extremities tapering to a fine point, 
each is provided eith a central oval nucléus. They are readily stair- 
ed bv the ordinarv stains. Flagella can not be definitely distin- 
guished, although here and there certain sporozoites appear to 
be flagellated. 
Nature of the Parasites. — At first sight one is struck by the 
similarité to colonies of I lerpetomonas and to certain stages of 
the Malaria parasite in Anopheles, but there is no evidence what- 
ever of a blepharoplast or centrosome. 
Pr. Mesnil, of the Pasteur Institute, Paris, to \vhom 1 for- 
warded a section for liis opinion agréés with this but considers 
the resemblanc(* much greater to certain stages of parasites of the 
