Experimental Acute Amebic Colitis in Dogs.

Abstract

Summary

1. By utilizing a technic whereby muco-sanguinous exudate f rom active cases of amebic colitis in dogs is injected per anum into the distal portion of the ileum, infection corresponding to spontaneous amebiasis in this host has been produced in 13 out of 14 dogs (93%), ranging in age from 2 months to 4 years. 2. The incubation period, as determined by the presence of active Endanzoeba histolytica in mucus withdrawn directly from the cecum, has ranged from one to 23 days, with the largest number of findings on the second day. 3. Acute cases, probably complicated by bacteremia, terminate with death in about 2 weeks. Chronic cases and one spontaneous recovery have also been observed. Carrier cases, with the passing of cysts in the stools, apparently do not develop in dogs. 4. The cecum is the primary seat of infection with E. histolytica in the dog. 5. The dog apparently receives its amebic infection from man but due to the failure to produce cysts the infection apparently cannot be transferred in nature from dog to dog or from dog to man.