Some Studies on the Occurrence and Properties of a Large Gram-Negative Coccus from the Rumen

Abstract

SUMMARY: A large Gram-negative coccus was isolated in a lactate-containing medium from the rumen of young calves. This organism is anaerobic and ferments only lactate, glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, mannitol and sorbitol. The coccus is found in large numbers (c. lOg/ml.) in the rumen contents of young calves, but is present only in small numbers or is absent from the rumens of older cattle and sheep. An attempt made to establish the organism in large numbers in a sheep rumen was unsuccessful. The possibility of the coccus being a normal inhabitant of the throat of adult animals was also examined. Five serological types were obtained. The distribution of these types in the same animal over a period, and in different animals, appears to be random. The distribution of a small lactate-fermenting coccus ( VeiZZoneZZa gazogenes) is also described.During the last few years a large number of bacteria have been isolated from the rumens of cattle and sheep, and some of these have been the subjects of extensive study. The present paper deals with the properties and occurrence of a large Gram-negative coccus which has been found to be common in the rumens of young animals, but less so in older animals. The organism was first isolated by chance in media used for cultivating lactobacilli and when its properties became known it was sought specifically in rumen contents. A preliminary communication about this organism has already been made (Hobson, Mann & Oxford, 1958). METHODS Media.Tomato extract agar was prepared by the method of Rogosa et al. (1953). The semi-solid medium contained Bacto casitone, 6 g. ; Bacto yeast extract, 2 g. ; L-cystine, 0.3 g.; thioglycollic (mercaptoacetic) acid, 0-12 ml. ; NaCl, 2 g. ; agar, 0.3 g. ; sodium lactate solution (70 %, w/w), 5.7 ml. ; resazurin, 0.4 ml. of 0.1 yo (w/v) solution; distilled water, 400 ml. Sterilized by autoclaving at 121' for 15 min. The pH value of the medium was 6-9-7-0. Increasing the agar concentration to 2 % gave solid thioglycollate medium. Johns's medium was prepared as described by Johns (1951). This was made into Chocolate Johns's Agar (CJA) medium by addition of 5 yo (v/v) The semi-solid medium (9 ml.) was incubated in tubes (6 in. x Q in.) in air, other media under 5 % (vlv) CO, + 95 yo (v/v) H,, and all at 38'. Sodium lactate solution was a 70% (wlw) solution (Hopkin and Williams Ltd.,

The biochemistry of rumen protozoa. 3. The carbohydrate metabolism of Entodinium

“…Portions of protozoal suspensions were inoculated into the semisolid medium of Hobson, Mann & Oxford (1958) (b) Incubation with soluble sugars. A suspension of protozoa which had been starved for 36 hr.…”

Isolation of Tetracycline-Resistant Megasphaera elsdenii Strains with Novel Mosaic Gene Combinations of tet (O) and tet (W) from Swine

“…4. (50), has been detected in intestinal contents and feces of ruminants (20,24,26), swine (1,23,32,58), and humans (56,59). Results from these studies suggest that M. elsdenii might colonize intestinal mucosal surfaces (Table 3), a habitat where microbial biofilms are likely sites of genetic and physiological exchanges.…”

Preparation and Characterization of Monoclonal Antibodies to a Butyrivibrio sp. and Their Potential Use in the Identification of Rumen Butyrivibrios, Using an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

“…Serological techniques showed that different morphological types of rumen bacteria, observed in viuo, were related to pure cultures of known micro-organisms cultured in vitro (Hobson et al, 1955(Hobson et al, , 1958(Hobson et al, , 1962Hobson & Mann, 1957). Serological evidence also led Jarvis (1967) to suggest the existence of two different species within the genus Ruminococcus, and enabled him and his co-workers to observe diurnal variations in ruminal numbers of cellulolytic cocci by using fluorescent antisera (Jarvis et al, 1967).…”