Susceptibility of the Chimpanzee to P. Malariae of Human Origin

Abstract

When in May 1940 my studies on the relationship between the human plasmodia and the malarial parasites of the chimpanzee were interrupted by the invasion of Belgium by Hitler's armies, I had reached the following conclusions (1):The plasmodium of the chimpanzee which is morphologically identical to the human P. malariae can be transmitted to man and produces in him a quartan type of malaria. I had identified this parasite as P. malariae, for which Pan satyrus verus could be a “virus reservoir”.However, though the human being had proved to be receptive to the plasmodium of the chimpanee, it had to be shown on the other hand, that the latter was also receptive to the human plasmodium. This was the objective of the study summarised in the present note.In the Table I have condensed the results of the various experiments.It is rather difficult to understand why the three first trials remained negative.