THE CHARACTERISTICS OF STRAINS OF SELENOMONAS ISOLATED FROM BOVINE RUMEN CONTENTS

Abstract

Ten strains of S. ruminantium studied were large, crescent-shaped rods with tufts of flagella often attached to the middle of the concave side of the cell. They produced H2S from cysteine and a pH of about 4.3 in glucose medium. NO3 reduction and V.P. reaction varied. All strains produced acid from glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose, fructose, lactose, maltose, cellobiose, esculin, and salicin. Some strains produced acid from sucrose, mannitol, trehalose, glycerol, dextrin, starch, and inulin and fermented lactate. Some strains produced mainly lactic acid and small amounts of propionic and acetic acid in glucose medium. Some produced chiefly propionic and acetic acids, while acids produced by others lay between the 2 extremes. Small amounts of butyric, formic, and succinic acids were detectable in most cultures. Lactate-fermenting strains produced propionic and acetic acids from lactate and were named S. ruminantium var. lactilyticas.