ON THE RELATION OF THE ORGANISMS IN THE TUNICA VAGINALIS OF ANIMALS INOCULATED WITH MEXICAN TYPHUS TO RICKETTSIA PROWAZEKI AND TO THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF THAT DISEASE

Abstract

Healthy lice became infected with Rickettsia prowazeki after feeding on monkeys inoculated with a strain of Mexican typhus. The same result was obtained in 100% of lice by rectal inoculation of an emulsion of tunica vaginalis of guinea pigs reacting to the same strain. In the tunica vaginalis of guinea pigs and rats inoculated intraperitoneally with an emulsion of lice containing R. prowazeki the intracellular organism constantly associated with the passage strain appeared regularly. R. prowazeki found in lice and the organism constantly present in the tunica of guinea pigs and rats reacting to the author''s strain of tabardillo are indistinguishable morphologically and tinctorially and their mode of intracellular multiplication is alike in every respect. It is concluded that they are identical. This organism is constantly associated with the causative agent of Mexican typhus, both in mammals and in lice, and all attempts to separate them have failed.