Mystromys Research Articles

The mycobacterium isolated from the dassie Procavia capensis (pallas)

Summary An acid-fast organism, referred to as the “dassie bacillus”, has been isolated from the Cape hyrax (dassie) in which it is believed to be the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis. The morphological and cultural properties of the dassie bacillus were not unlike those of the vole bacillus. On experimental inoculation into guinea-pigs, rabbits, mice, Mystromys albicaudatus, Rattus natalensis, and Tatera brantsi, it usually caused a local lesion with involvement of the regional nodes. Generalised infection was rare and in one instance only, a rabbit, the infection was lethal. No lesions were observed in infected domestic fowls. Immunological experiments showed that intravenous inoculation of mice with dassie bacilli had a retarding influence on infection following challenge with vole bacilli. However, all the animals ultimately succumbed to a caseating pneumonia. Preliminary treatment of guinea pigs with dassie bacilli also suggested a retarding effect on subsequent infection with small doses of myco. tuberculosis, var. bovis. The systematic position of the dassie bacillus is discussed and the opinion expressed that it may be classified either as an attenuated strain of the vole organism, or as an independent species of Mycobacterium.

Experimental periodontal lesions in the white-tailed rat in South Africa.

Experimental periodontal lesions in the white-tailed rat in South Africa.

Experimental dental caries in the white-tailed rat in South Africa.

Experimental dental caries in the white-tailed rat in South Africa.