Abstract
In our country, epidemical outbreaks of the equine-abortion due to Bac. abortus equi have been long recognized. Moreover, it has been also ascertained by our investigations that this organism served to cause the other morbid forms in horses, namely, the formation of abscess in several parts of the body, being accompanied with fever, sometimes with anaemia. However, any case of the infection due to this organism in man has not yet been noted as far as we know.
The fact can be described as follows:
On the 19th of March, 1936, the veterinarian (Mr. O. J) of a horse farming association, treated the mare which miscarried on the preceeding day by the infection of Bac. abortus equi, inserting his right arm in the vagina for irrigation of the uterus. On the next day, the development of 4 furuncle-like boils having been found on the skin of the arm, he visited our laboratory to ascertain whether or not they are rendered to the infection of Bac. abortus equi. So, the serous fluid obtained from the boil having been cultivated, the colonies closely related to those of Bac. abortus equi were observed with some colonies of Staphylococcus. As regards the boil, 2 of them showed a heiling course with the scab-formation, but the other 2 developed to the painful swelling surrounded with red inflammatory area. Meanwhile the patient had an attack of fever, followed by the swelling of axillary gland. When he received the surgical treatment at a hospital on the 27th day, the cultivation of yellowish white pus from the lesion showed also the growth of colonies resembled to those of Bac. abortus equi.
The serological examinations having been carried on, the following results were obtained.
(1) From the results of cross test with Serum of the rabbit immunized with Bac. abortus equi (S. strain) and the isolated bacteri (J. strain) respectively, it was noted that the isolated bacteria is similar to B. abortus equi in the agglutinability. (Table I).
(2) An analysis of H and O receptors having been performed, any difference was not demonstrated in both organisms. (Table II and III).
(3) However, the serum obtained from the patient exhibits a negative result when tested with both strains. (Table IV).
As far as these serological experiments go, the organism under discussion is identical with Bac. abortus equi and it is probably believed that Bac. abortus equi can invade the skin tissue of human body, as Bang bacillus does.
