Ultrastructural studies of Rickettsia prowazeki from louse midgut cells to feces: search for "dormant" forms.

An electron microscope study of infected human louse gut cells and feces was made to determine whether a valid correlation exists between the increased resistance of Rickettsia prowazeki (in the louse feces) to adverse environmental influences and changes in the organism which might be reflected in its ultrastructure. Upon fine structural examination of this intracellular parasite as it passed from the louse midgut cell to the feces, it was apparent that no such morphological changes had occurred.