652 PROTEUS AND Z0PFIU8 



ZOPFIUS 



Definition. — Zopfius. 



Long rods, occurring in evenly curved chains. Gram-positive. Motile. Spider- 

 web growth on solid media. Facultative anaerobes. Carbohydrates and gelatin 

 not attacked ; hydrogen sulphide not formed. 



Type species, Zopfius zopfii (Kurth) Wenner and Rettger ; isolated originally 

 from the intestinal tract of hens. 



Organisms of this group are differentiated in several ways from those of the Proteus 

 group. Apart from being Gram-positive, they ferment no carbohydrates, they form no 

 HjS, they do not liquefy gelatin, and they do not exhibit the phenomenon of swarming. 



Morphologically, rods are formed, about 3-5 fi long by 0-8 /n broad, having rounded 

 ends and parallel sides, and occurring in long evenly curved chains ; filamentous forma 

 are common. The organisms are motile by peritrichate flageUa (Fig. 12, p. 30). 



On agar they form small indistinct colonies having, on magnification, a spider-web 

 appearance ; sometimes the colonies are thinnest at the centre and are surrounded by 

 arborescent tufts. In gelatin stab arborescent lateral branches, interlacing freely, grow 

 out from the stab. There is a slow, moderate growth in broth, with occasionally a thin 

 fragile pelUcle. Optimum temperature for growth is 25° C. ; growth occurs freely between 

 20° and 30° C, but is very poor at 37° C. No sugars are fermented, and there is only 

 a scanty growth in litmus milk with no visible change in the medium. On potato there 

 is a moderate growth ; the medium is darkened. Gelatin, serum, and egg are not digested. 

 No indole or HjS is formed, but there is some production of NH3. 



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