Bismuth Sulfite Research Articles

Factors affecting glutamic acid production byArthrobacter globiformis

In our experiments both natural faecal samples of Sahnonella carriers and faeces mixed with a known amount of salmonellae were used. The second method gave erroneous results, laboratory strains being easier to recover than naturally excreted strains. In the comparative investigation we suspended a known amount (by weight) of faeces in saline and made serial tenfold dilutions from this original suspension. Amounts of 0.1 ml were inoculated. The same amount of faecal suspension was mixed with bismuth sulphite agar and poured into a petri dish. Sometimes it was difficult to establish a homogeneous suspension of mouse-faeces. Droppings of mice were then mixed with some river sand and a small amount of saline in a mortar. After mixing thoroughly the rest of the saline was added. The sand did not influence the quantitative results. The final experiments were carried out by suspending the droppings directly into selenite broth, the suspension being made with the aid of sand. In order to test if this complicated trituration in a mortar was necessary, this method was compared with simply putting the droppings into the tubes containing selenite. Although the results of the method described were slightly better than the simple procedure, the simple one was adapted for our qualitative experiments.

Observations Concerning the Growth of Three Species of Shigella on Bismuth Sulfite Agar

Observations Concerning the Growth of Three Species of Shigella on Bismuth Sulfite Agar Mildred M. Galton, and Nancy J. Collins CopyRight https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.36.3.273 Published Online: August 29, 2011

A Modification of Wilson and Blair's Bismuth Sulphite Agar (Stabilized Stock Solutions)

Bismuth sulphite agar is by far the most efficient of all single media devised for the isolation of typhoid bacilli from stools. When tested in comparison with other media it was found not only to afford the highest percentage of positive results but also the maximum inhibition of saprophytic growth. Its remarkable selectivity is demonstrated by the fact that negative plates are often completely sterile, and positive ones often consist exclusively of typhoid colonies (Loureiro & Matos, unpublished observations).

Bismuth sulphite media for the isolation of V. cholerae

1. A fluid enrichment medium containing sulphite and bismuth based on Read's modification of one of Wilson & Blair's media has been devised and the claims of Read (1939) and Seal (1939) as to the value of such a medium has been confirmed.2. A saccharose mannitol sulphite bismuth alcohol phenol red agar medium is described and has been found to allow rich growth of the true cholera vibrio and to inhibit the growth not only of B. coli and B. lactis aërogenes but of many vibrios liable to be mistaken for the true vibrio cholerae.3. Thirty-one strains of true cholera vibrios, obtained from the National Collection, grew rapidly and profusely in the media.4. Of twenty-five cholera-like and para-cholera strains six grew well, whilst the growth of nineteen was scanty or nil.5. Of eleven El Tor vibrios five grew in both fluid and solid bismuth media, five grew only on the solid medium and in one no growth occurred in either medium. The El Tor colonies were much smaller than those of the epidemic cholera strains.

Isolation of Bact. typhosum by means of bismuth sulphite medium in water- and milk-borne epidemics

1. An account is given of enteric fever in a Mental Hospital, and the discovery of a “precocious carrier” of the Bact. typhosum, a man who, 4½ months before he showed symptoms of the disease, was a “carrier” and probably the source of infection in a milk-borne outbreak.2. Description of a strain of Bact. typhosum forming dwarf colonies which was isolated (a) from a river, (b) from a patient who had drunk the water, (c) from the sewage of a mental hospital discharged into the river 4½ miles higher up, and (d) from patients in the mental hospital.3. Isolation of the Bact. typhosum from a well of an institution in which an outbreak of enteric fever had occurred.4. Isolation of Bact. typhosum from a stream adjoining a well in a farmyard in Belfast at a time when the milk was the source of infection of over 100 cases of the disease.5. Isolation of Bact. typhosum from a cesspool discharging into a stream near Bournemouth, and the suggestion that Mrs A. from whose premises milk was obtained, which was the infective vehicle in the Bournemouth-Poole epidemic, may have been a “precocious carrier”.6. An account of methods employed in the bacteriological examination of water and sewage.

Further Experience of the Bismuth Sulphite Media in the Isolation of Bacillus typhosus and B. paratyphosus B from Faeces, Sewage and Water

1. By means of the Old Standard bismuth sulphite medium B. typhosus was cultivated 44 times out of 50 examinations of the stools of 50 typhoid fever patients and convalescents.2. By means of the same medium B. paratyphosus B was cultivated 22 times out of 27 examinations of the stools of 27 different cases of paratyphoid fever.3. In 13 examinations of Belfast sewage in different months during 1928 and 1929, by means of the Old Standard sulphite media, B. typhosus was isolated on 10 occasions. In two examinations of Lisburn sewage B. typhosus was isolated. Although no special search for B. paratyphosus B was undertaken, this organism was isolated on two occasions from Belfast sewage. The viability of B. typhosus and B. paratyphosus B in sewage is longer than was suggested by the work of previous observers. It has been possible to cultivate B. typhosus and B. paratyphosus B from the deposit of sewage stored in a bottle at room temperature for 3 weeks. On one occasion B. typhosus was found alive at the end of 5 weeks.4. On two occasions water from the River Lagan was examined, and on one of these B. typhosus and B. paratyphosus B were cultivated.5. For the isolation of the B. enteritidis Gaertner the media gave good results in the examination of faeces from cases of food-poisoning.

Use of a Glucose Bismuth Sulphite Iron Medium for the Isolation of B. typhosus and B. proteus

1. The development and use of a medium which has selective properties for the growth of B. typhosus and B. proteus is described.2. The principle of the method rests (1) on the positive property of the B. typhosus of being able to reduce a sulphite to a sulphide in the presence of glucose, (2) on the inhibitory action on the growth of B. coli of a bismuth sulphite in the presence of a certain excess of sodium sulphite.3. The media finally developed are made in the following way:A. To 100 c.c. of a melted 3 per cent. nutrient agar are added 5 c.c. of a 20 per cent. solution of glucose, 10 c.c. of a 20 per cent. solution of sodium sulphite (anhydrous), 5 c.c. of a standard bismuth solution. After boiling for two minutes an addition is made of 1 grm. of exsiccated sodium phosphate and 1 c.c. of an 8 per cent. solution of ferrous sulphate crystals.Medium B is the same as above with the addition of 0·5 c.c. of a 1 per cent. watery solution of brilliant green. The standard liquor bismuthi is prepared by mixing 60 grm. bismuth citrate with 50 c.c. of distilled water and then with 20 c.c. liq. ammonii sp. gr. 0·880 and finally making the volume up to 500 c.c. with distilled water.4. On these media the B. typhosus grows readily and forms flat blackdry surface colonies. B. proteus grows on the medium in a non-spreading fashion but does not form black colonies. B. coli either fails to grow or after a period of inhibition forms brown sticky raised colonies.5. Bismuth media were used in the examination of 31 enteric stools and in 30 instances the infecting microorganism was successfully isolated. Single examinations only were made and the material was usually 24 to 48 hours old at the time of examination.6. Emulsions of enteric stools which as shown by the usual media contained only a dozen or so of typhoid bacilli were found by our bismuth media actually to contain several thousand.7. The isolation from a case of typhoid fever of a proteus X 19 strain is recored.8. As regards its growth on bismuth sulphite media B. paratyphosus B behaves more like a reducing B. coli than a B. typhosus culture. For the isolation of B. paratyphosus B a lactose bile salt brilliant green medium is described.