STUDIES ON THE ETIOLOGY OF HEARTWATER

Abstract

The Rickettsiæ of heartwater are more definitely restricted to the vascular endothelial cells of infected animals than are those of typhus or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They likewise form more pronounced spherical colonies within the cells. Their presence does not injure the endothelial cells to a degree at all comparable with that caused by the other pathogenic Rickettsiæ. The rupture of endothelial cells and discharge of Rickettsiæ, which are apparently viable, into the circulation constitute phenomena not thus far reported in the case of typhus or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.