Isolation and characterization of large treponemes from the bovine rumen

Abstract

Ten strains of strictly anaerobic spiral organisms were isolated in pure culture from a 10-7 dilution of bovine rumen contents. Three strains were studied in detail. These strains morphologically resembled previously isolated and described rumen treponemes except the new isolates were larger, 0.7 .mu.m wide and 12-25 .mu.m long. They rapidly fermented pectin and, less readily, L-arabinose, inulin and sucrose. Acetic and formic acid were the main fermentation products from pectin; small amounts of succinic acid were also formed.