“Trypanosomes and bird malaria”

Abstract

The studies made heretofore upon the malarial parasites of birds have shown the existence of four species or types. These are:

Proteosoma.

Halteridium.

Hæmamœba majoris, Lav.

Hsemamœba Ziemanni, Lav.

In the course of an extended study of the parasites of birds, the authors encountered several new species, and, since the number is likely to be still further increased, it seemed desirable to attempt a classification. The authors based their classification largely upon the type of multiplication and the habitat of the parasite. Two genera were given; one, Plasmodium, characterized by formation of segmenting forms in the peripheral blood and invasion of fully developed red blood cells. The injection of blood having these parasites results in an infection. For the other genus the authors used the priority name of Kruse's, Hœmoproteus. This genus is characterized by an entire absence of segmentation-forms in the peripheral blood, and, with the exception of two species which form a transition as it were between the two genera, invasion of young erythroblasts is the rule. Injection of blood having these parasites does not lead to infection.