The Mechanism of Transmission of Haemobartonella muris (Mayer) of Rats by the Spined Rat Louse, Polyplax spinulosa (Burmeister)

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Abstract
Susceptible albino rats did not become infected with H. muris as a result of ingesting crushed lice from an infected source when administered in a bolus of bread or by tube. Similarly, the intraperitoneal inoculation of rats with the feces of infected lice did not result in infection. Stained smears made from such feces did not reveal the presence of organisms resembling H. muris. When infected lice were crushed and rubbed into the scarified skin, infection with H. muris followed. Lice from an infected source, maintained for 24 hours without access to bartonella-containing blood, did not produce infection by their bites when placed on rats. However, the bites of infected lice allowed to feed upon a rat for 4 hours immediately following their removal from an infected rat did produce infection. It appears that transmission normally occurs by the rat crushing infected lice and inoculating itself by scratching and biting. Transmission may also occur directly; the louse feeding on an infected rat and then proceeding immediately to feed on a 2d rat may inoculate bartonellae remaining on its mouthparts.

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