| Oak Street | UNCLASSIFIED) ~~ | vy Nene ot! a w A? \ 4 VOL. VI., No. 4. SS AUG; TEI09 yy | \“ fe Crxas Christian GAnutversity Bulletin SUPPLEMENT Aug., 1909 | U SITY OF ILLINDIS eet te lal PRESIDENT’S OFFICE. PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY BY TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, WACO (North Waco Station), TEXAS. Entered at the Postoffice at Waco (N rth Waco Station, Texas, as Second Class Matter, Under act of Congress of July 16.1894. Thesis: The Malarial Parasite Presented to the Faculty of TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY, in application for the Degree MASTER OF ARTS, May 1909 2 a so BY a oe ee ee PAUL TYSON, Santa Anna, Texas. The Malarial Parasite The extent of the ravages of malarial fever on the human fam- ily can be safely estimated to equal that of the combined wars of the world. Perhaps in the near future the unexpected part it has played in the progress of civilization will be revealed. In many instances no sooner had the congested civilization reached its zenith, than it was wrecked by small-pox, cholera and bubonic plague. In nearly every case the inhabitants, on account of their uncleanliness, paved the way for the invasion of a pestilence, The bubonic plague alone is said to have destroyed thirty million peo-. ple within two centuries in Europe. ; In malaria, however, we have a disease of a different class and habits.. Instead of assailing man where he is strongest and most numerous, as in case of the great infections, it lies in wait for him where he is weakest. Lately we have begun to realize what an impediment it was to the pioneer and frontiersman of our own country. As fast as our forefathers began to settle in the Missis- sippi Valley they were attacked by malaria. According to their phraseology the effects were termed ‘chills and fever,’ “fevon- ager,” “mylary,”’ which are idential with the terms “jungle fever,” “African fever,” “black fever,’ so commonly found in the tropical countries. “Hardly a generation ago along the advanc- ing front of civilization in the Middle West, the whole life of the community was colored with a malarial tinge and the taste of quinine was as familiar as that of sugar.” It not only has been a barrier to civilization in cur country but its ravages have been felt in Panama, Africa, South America, Europe and other coun- tries. , It will not be necessary to go far away to get statistics concern- ing this disease. According to the statistics from seven United States army posts and three of the largest railway hospitals in Texas, at least one person in twelve each year suffers from ma- larial fever. The expense to the people of the State on account of this disease amounts from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 yearly. At least three thousand people die from its effect annually. Every year yellow fever claims about fourteen victims and about $40,000 is spent to prevent it. On the other hand malaria claims three thousand victims yearly and nothing is done to prevent it. ‘“Real- ly this condition would be amusing if it were not so serious.” In order to become more familiar with this disease the assist- ance of the zoologist, bacteriologist, entomologist and biologist will be necessary. Malarial fever is an acute infectious, epidemic, endemic and inoculable disease. The plasmodium of malaria be- ing the only cause. It is introduced into the human system by the bite of the female anopheles mosquito only. It is not known positively just why the latter insect should be the only one of his order to transmit the germ. It is generally accepted, however, that within the anopheles is found certain body or tissue juices and excretions which serve as a proper environment for the per- petuation of the plasmodium. Figure 1 shows the difference be- tween the malarial bearing (anopheles) and the harmless or com- mon mosquito (culex.) The malarial parasite is a very small living organism found in the red corpuscles of man belonging to the order Gymnosporidia, class sporazoa, and species, hemameba malaria (quartan) hema- meba vivax (tertian) and haemomenas praecox or Laverania malariae (estivo-autumnal). The latter species being the most in- jurious and violent. Among these species some may contain either male or female essence. (gameti). Those containing the male elements are termed microgametocytes and the cell produc- ing the female element are termed macrogametes. The life cycle of the germ is very complicated. It has selected two hosts in which to complete its life cycle, grow, sporulate and produce its offspring. It will be observed that the progagation is hindered as well as well protected by having two hosts. From the zool- ozist’s point of view the mosquito acts as a definite host, on the other hand man acts as the intermediate host. In describing the life cycle of the germ it will be more convenient and logical to describe, first, the cycle within the human system and, second, the cycle within the mosquito. ; FIG 1 -ANOPHELES MOSQUITO 3 (ENLARGED) “ PART*OF A GROUP OF EGGS DEPOSITED BY A FEMALE ANOPHELES AS THEY APPEARED RESTING NATURALLY . ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. e \ fem THE DIFFERENCES SETWEEN THE MALE AND FEMALE ARE _ BROUGHT OUT, THE STRIKING FEATHERY ANTENNAE ANDO PALPS OF THE MALE RENDER LF VERY CONSPICIOUS €G6G MASS DEPOSITED BY ine CULEX FEMALE og. cuLex ) i .- j | ee iy beh ans rae MOSQUITO iy : y TA Ans A ge y : * OR COM Oo Fi : 3 ; vA 3 Ae \ NUMBER 5S, HALF GROWN’ LARVA OF fe / ; NOPHELES IN FEEDING POSITION, as e . . é 2A \ Sat BENEATH THE SURFACE FILE MALE : FEMALE 6 WATER SURFACE 7 fades nace £ Bap NUMBER 6 HALF GROW LARVA OF CULEX IN BREATHING “ POSITION ANOPHELES (RESTING POSITIONS) CULEX The parasite is first conveyed into the blood by the bite of the female anopheles mosquito, in the form of a small one-celled or- ganism. It resembles a filamentous blast or spindle-shaped body and is termed an exotospore. In one instance the author ob- tained an anopheles mosquito which had been confined to the breeding-jar since hatching, and within it an excellent view of the exotospores was obtained. Figure II. is the view as seen under the microscope. The lower portion of the field (B) shows many of the exotospores closely adhering to each other. This condition is due to the cover slide having ruptured a large spore case or cyst which had not yet liberated the microdrganisms, similar to the one designated at A. At B the exotospores had a vigorous wave-like motion. They seemed to be disturbed or restless-like. Close observation of these microérganisms will reveal the nucleus near the center. In this instance these organisms lived for six hours under the cover slide. Above the field B, (at C) will be seen a few liberated exotospores. These had a vigorous motion. Upon entering the plasma of the blood these organisms began a further development. Its next stage can be seen in Fgure III., 2 and 3. No. 3 is a more advanced stage of No. 2. Those who have seen an amoeba will see how closely the parasite resembles it. On account of this close resemblance the organism is called a small “amoeboid organism” or “amoebula.”” When the parasite reaches the development as in No. 3, it attaches itself to a corpus- cle. When it first attaches itself it looks as though it were “hang- ing on for dear life,” the cornpuscle seems to be trying to throw it off. The germ, however, will finally become thoroughly embedded in its host and there begin to feed upon it. (Fig. IID, 4). At this stage the plasmodium is called an ‘“‘intra-corpuscular body.” The parasite feeds and grows, and soon begins to get very large (as compared to size of its host). (Fig. III., 5). When it ap- proaches maturity as in Fig. III., 6, it begins to resemble a rosette or daisy head and is said to begin to sporulate. The parasite now has lost its amoeboid shape and has a somewhat rounded form. In Fig. III., 7, the sporulation is almost complete and the many new parasites can be readily seen. When they become matured the corpuscle breaks and liberates many of the new parasites as seen in Fig. III., 8. These again enter the carpus- cles and the same development takes place as just described. The cycle is thus complete, development having taken place asexual- ly. If after the amoebula (Fig. III., 3) enters the corpuscle, it takes forty-eight hours to sporulate (Fig. III., 8), it is termed a tertian parasite. If seventy-two hours are required for the sporu- lation, it is termed a quartan parasite. In case of the aestivo- autumnal it takes forty-eight hours with more or less irregu- larity. Each species of the plasmodium just mentioned will be discussed moire minutely later. When the corpuscle breaks (Fig. III., 8) the germs are liberated and at the same time a poison secreted by them is liberated, which has effects upon the nerves so commonly called “chills” or “fever.” Prior to the chill or fever the rosette forms (Fig. III., 7) are most numerous, at least they are more easily found, in the blood near the surface. During pyrexia the organisms are found mostly in the internal organs. As stated above, there are sexual cells called gametes, which are formed from certain ones of the amoebulae. They undergo no further change while in the human subject. In the tertian and quartan species these gametes resemble the largest amoe- bulae. The female cell has more of a granular appearance than does the male. In the aestivo-autumnal the gametes have a crescent-like shape (Fig. IV., 1). The male and female crescents can be distinguished by the arrangements and color of the granu- lar matter found within them. In the former the pigment is scattered and less dark, in the latter the granular matter is coarser and darker, and is usually confined to the central portion of the organism. Quinine, the common remedy for malaria, does not have any effect upon them. When the anopheles mosquito feeds upon man affected with malaria, it swallows blood corpus- cles, parasites and gametes. The latter organisms immediately begin developing into form as shown in Fig. IV., 3 and 4. The next development that takes place is shown in No. 5. The male cel) will develop flagella-like shoots which are very long. In many instances they have a bulbous terminal, a certain amount of chromatin surrounded by protoplasm. These are similar to spermatozoan and are called microgametocytes. As they lash about they will become detached from the parent body and go swimming off. Presently one will strike the female (macro- gamete) cell and fertilize it (Fig. IV., 6). It is then termed a zygote. This zygote is then endowed with the faculty of pene- trating the muscular walls of the insect’s stomach or intestine. A membrane then forms around the zygote called a sporocyst. After a few days development the zygote or odcyte projects into the abdominal cavity cf the insect, and looks like excrescences or warts. (Fig. V.) While develoning, the zygote divides into a number of cells termed blastophores. Fig. VI., 10 to 17, will FIG IIL (con) FIGIIT (CON) CORPUSCLE THE PARASITE OF TERTIAN MALARIA © (HEMAMEBA ViIVAR) (WRIGHTS MODIFICATION OF LEISHMAN'S STAIN) 2 ry af ee et ee Me Pa ey, _ Nee on ae «= ARTAN M i (ERAMEBA’ MALARIA THE PARASITE OF. “COART any Lov th } 1,1 YOUNGEST FORMS, 2.2.3. MATURER FORMS 6 a Ss & me 4 4 PRESEGMENTING FORMS. 5,SEGMENTING FORM. i THE PARASITE OF AESTIVO- + AUTUMNAL MALARIAL. TLAVERANIA MALARIAE.) 12,3,4°EARLY RING FORM S67 MATURER FORMS. @,9 CRESCENT FORMS 10,1112 OVOIDS. THESE ARE THE ONLY FORMS FOUND IN THE PERIPHERAL BLOOD. SEGMENTING BOOIES OCCUR IN INTERNAL ORGANS MIGHLY MAGNIFIED « show this structure. In about ten days the zygote becomes fully developed and is generally termed a cyst, which appears to be packed with zygoblasts (Fig. VI., 17). The cyst becomes so dis- tended with these small spindle-shaped spores that it bursts and the latter are set free in the body cavity. “This is similar to the rupture of the mother tick by her young.” These spores on being liberated are mashed upward into the salivary glands of the in- sect and are poured out with the saliva into the blood of man when the insect bites him. These fiilamentous blasts in man will develop into the intra-corpuscular bodies or amoebulae which will within two to twenty-one days cause chills or fever. It will be in order to remember that the mosquito does not possess a circu- latory system as we do, but that the white-colored blood cir- culates quite freely throughout the body by means of a dorsal vein. The latter organ is only a mere tube which contracts and expands with each pulsation. It is quite easy then for the spin- dle-shaped bodies to be drifted into the salivary glands. The blasts are not only drifted into the salivary glands, but through- out the entire system of the insect. The three species of the parasite will now be discussed more in detail—the quartan, tertian and aestivo-autumnal. Their techni- cal name has already been given. The development of the cycle of quartan fever is seventy-two hours and produces pyrexia every third day. For this specie the maximum period of incubation is twenty-one days, the minimum eleven, or a general average of fourteen days. While the para- site is growing within the corpuscle the latter does not change its size or appearance. The general outline of the parasite is more clearly defined than those of the tertian (both species resem- bling). When stained by the Romanowsky method the granu- lar matter is coarser and of a darker pigment. ‘“‘The fully de- veloped sporocyte has a daisy head appearance, dividing by regu- lar radial segmentation into six to twelve spores which, on be- coming free, are rounded in form.” (See Fig. VIII., for stained views of the parasite). For tertian fever the maximum period of incubation is twenty- one days, the minimum six days, the average being eleven days. The evele of development is completed in forty-eight hours. When A (MAGNIFIED) 6 STOMACH OF MOSQUITO SHOWING CYSTS IMBEDED IN MUSCULAR LAYERS , ay em et eS Goryeusses oe, q vonpoad Wy esa oe ya Sc ae Yes, irae | examining a patient for malarial (fresh blood examination) the eye must be trained to observe any especially weak or irregular shaped corpuscle. The tertian parasite always makes the corpus- cles swell and have a “pale” appearance. Its outlines are not as clearly defined as those of the above parasite. It has, however, more of an amoeboid movement than does the quartan. When stained by the Romanowsky method the pigments show to be small and of a yellowish-brown tint. The sporocyte develops larger than the quartan; liberating from fifteen to twenty spores, which -have somewhat oval shape. This small oval or ring- shaped parasite has a large pigment cell in one end and when it attaches itself to a corpuscle it has its greatest amoeboid move- ment. As the parasite increases in size it loses its amoeboid movement and form. At the end of twenty-four hours it is about three-fourths the size of the swollen and pale corpuscle and is*“‘in form of a spheroidal or elliptical, homogeneous body.” At this stage of the development the most pigment is found in the outer edge. The full grown parasite is about four-fifths the size of the corpuscle. The granluar matter is coarser than at former stages. The rosette forms are most numerous just before the chill, rapidly appearing after the pyrexia. (See Fig. VII. for stained views of the parasite. ) For the aestivo-autumnal fever the maximum period of incuba- tion is fourteen days, the minimum two days, or a general average of six days. The cycle occupies forty-eight hours—not as a rule, however, because the cycle of this parasite is irregular. This species of the parasite gives rise to and causes the most malig- nant type of fever. The germ upon attaching itself to the corpuscle has the appearance of a “signet ring”’ and is quite often termed as “‘the aestivo-autumnal signet ring.” It is quite a common thing to find two or three and occasionally four of these parasites at ene time clinging to the same corpuscle. The young parasite is further characterized by being void of granular matter. Upon reaching maturity, however, a few small pigments are present. It requires about twenty-four hours for the large signet ring to reach its maturity as a signet ring form, if it further develops in size it will become slightly irregular or the outlines of the ring are incomplete. The corpuscle in which the parasite is feeding shrinks up and has a copper color—the full grown organism occupying about one-half of the corpuscle. The fully developed sporocyte gives rise to from six to twelve spores, which are very small and slightly irregular. This sporulation is very. rarely found in the peripheral blood. It takes place in the internal organs. This species of the plasmodium is the most pernicious, It bieaks up more of the corpuscles than the others. The crescent shaped gametes have already been discussed in connection with the life cycle of the germ within the mosquito. The following is a comparison of the tertian and aestivo- autumnal: I. The general shape of the tertian ring is slightly irregular. The shape of the aestivo-autumnal is ‘geometrically circular and usually with a typical signet-like swelling.” II. A few grains of pigment are always found in the early tertian ring, and always absent in the aestivo-autumnal. There are a few rare exceptions. III. The tertian always contains pigments before the spores begin to form. In case of the latter species, it always begins the formation of spores prior to the appearance of the pigment. IV. The corpuscle always swells while the tertian is feeding upon it—the corpuscle shrinks while the latter species is feeding. The name “Malaria,” though popular, is an unscientific name for the disease. Before the plasmodium was discovered it was generally accepted by the public and a majority of the medical profession that the disease was contracted upon exposure to the bad air, henee the name ‘“Mal-aria,’ meaing bad air. Of all forms of “bad air’ the night air was considered to be most violent; it was especially “poisonous” if it came from the region of the swamps. It is really the most dreaded air now because the anopheles mosquito delights in meandering around in it. The air is “still” and still air is the only kind in which he can fly at will. As to the real chemically poisonous effects of the night air no harm can come. If the mosquitoes were driven from the low or swampy places, man might live within that environment a life time and never become affected with malaria. Before the germ was discovered some men interested in the cause of malaria had chemists to analyze the airs of the swampy districts. When compared with the analysis of the higher land air it was practically the same. This seemed to crush the idea that the disease was caused by the low land air. Another scient- ist discovered a small one celled organism in moist dirt and im- mediately it was given out to the world that the cause of malaria had been discovered. He claimed that the “germ” emerged from the earth at night only and was carried by the wind into the room of the sleeper. In order to prove-to the people that the “unknown cause” had been found he placed some earth con- taining these organisms in the window of a bed room. In due time the occupant developed a case of malaria. (The mosquitoes had been feeding as usual during the trial.) The discoverer was praised considerably until another sceintist who doubted the power of the organism to develop malaria gave it a test. He swallowed many of the organisms and never suffered from an attack of fever. This crushed the name of the ‘“‘late discoverer.” The néxt important step in solving the mystery was the ob- servance of some that those occupying the second floor in a building suffered less than those occupying the first. The same “air” was breathed in each instance, but it was in motion more in the first case than the latter (air being higher from the earth). The germ was finally found by Laveran in 1880. Finding also that it was an animal organism instead of vegetable, scientists began to search for some other animal as the distributor. Since the mosquito fed on man more frequently than on any other animal and because he flew at night when the “bad air” was rising, led many to suspect him. Finally in 1885, Dr. Ross “discovered and positively identified the plasmodium undergoing a cycle of its own development in the body of the mosquito”’— the problem was solved. The above is a brief review of the discovery of the plasmodium of malaria. The date of the first case of malarial fever in the history of the world will never be known any more than the antiquity of smallpox or measles. Where the first parasire came from no one knows. All that scientists can say is that cells produce like cells and “like begets like.” In other words ,the first malarial parasite came from some pre-existing malarial parasite. It is startling to think of the many human lives destroyed by this microdrganism “in the thousands of years of the world’s history.” Then recall that the germ was discovered only twenty- nine years ago. “It is a glorious thought for us in this twentieth century to be engaged in putting such an arch enemy of man- kind under our feet and to stay the hand of death from those we love.” Be a benefactor by removing the breeding places of mosquitoes. Cover all standing water with a filin of kerosene which will prevent the larva, the common wriggler, from reaching the air with his breathing tube, shown in Figure I, 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Zoology: Linville & Kelley. Bacteria, Yeasts and Molds in the Home: Conn. Bacteriology: Muir & Ritchie. Clinical Examinations of the Blood: Cabot. Malarial Fever: Albert Woldert. ‘Malaria: Woods & Hutchinson. Diagnosis by Means of the Blood: Watkins. Malarial Fever: fF. Loffler. - Family, Haemamoebidae: Wasielewski. Medical Review. The Mosquitoes of the United States: L. O. Howard. United States Government Report on Malarial Fever. « ee - es ' = a ¢ -+* +o re ‘ ‘ IVS & . ee an mm @; 7 } ‘ . : ‘ ‘ - wee ae ae ms ret ‘ ae dat) é de ‘. .* \ - - 4 3, 3 hay: He aT S ay Se KEE Be? 7 -« Phd Lv 4 i , 4 + b - ~ as oe b Fe ve <3 * ¢ x - ~s be " $ , 2 ‘ < 3 ey 5 Say : ” } " 2 53 i , ‘ 5 i ' Lo i é AAP , ‘ 1 rts : eee v , 4 a ; , sive . > ‘ ae ie Sa ~Q