Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1960

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Bacteriology

Abstract

Investigation into the growth requirements of Sphaerophorus necrophorus (Flugge, 1886) Prevot, 1938 presents a difficult area for study. Only a few such investigations have been attempted in the past for this highly pleomorphic, gram negative, and thread like micro-organism. At present, there is a great deal of confusion concerning its growth characteristics. The development of a chemically defined medium will certainly play an important role in obtaining consistent growth characteristics which are more typical of the organics. The importance of this organism has been centered upon its role as a pathogen. As a cause of necrobacillosis diseased of domestic and wild animals, and numerous infections in man. This organism is characterized by its ability to produce necrotic tissue and lesions on various organs in warm blooded animals. One lot of 196 steers had 35 livers condemned for abscesses and s second lot of 275 steers had 30 livers condemned. This represents 18.4 and 10.9 percent condemnation respectively. Sphaerophorus necrophorus is best identified by the presence of pleomorphic, swelling producing filaments in bovine liver abscesses; a characteristic fetid odor, the production of large amounts of gas, the production of nodules in a jar medium, and its anaerobic requirement serve to further identify the organism. Research on synthetic or chemically defined media for this organism began with the study by West and Lewis. They considered the nutritional requirements of twenty nine strains of gram negative, non-spore forming anaerobic bacteria from the intestinal tract. One isolant, S7, was singled out for its typical, vigorous, uncontaminated growth characteristics for consistent use throughout the present study.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Meat -- Microbiology
Sphaerophorus necrophophorus

Description

Includes bibliographical references

Format

application/pdf

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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