Further notes on Piroplasma mutans : a new species of Piroplasma in South African cattle

Abstract

Experiment 1 was the infection of animals known to be immune against redwater with piroplasma mutans. Experiment 2 was heifers infected with blue larval ticks in thew first instance, causing a pure infection of piroplasme bigeminum, and subsequently injected with blood containing piroplasma mutans.Experiment 3 was done with susceptible heifers injected(1)with piroplasma bigeminum exclusively, (2) infested with larval blue ticks feeding on animals containing piroplasma bigeminum and piroplasma mutans in their blod, and (3) injected with blood containing piroplasma bigeminum and piroplasma mutans. Experiment 4 was to prove that the injection of blood of an animal immune to redwater which contracted the disease from ticks, is not followed by the appearance of piroplasma mutans. Experiment 5 was with spontaneous cases of piroplasma mutans originating in the Cape Colony. Experiment 6 was with spontaneous cases of piroplasma mutans originating in the Transvaal. Experiment 7 was to show that blood containing piroplasma bigeminum and piroplasma mutans when injected into cattle susceptible to ordinary redwater does not always cause the former parasite to appear.