4 i4 



Scientific Proceedings (124). 



204 (1951) 



The cultivation of Bact. abortus Bang. 

 By c. p. fitch. 



[From the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn.] 



Many methods have been described for the cultivation of 

 Bact. abortus Bang. Following the original work with this organ- 

 ism by Bang and Stribolt in 1897, several investigators have 

 described methods for the cultivation of this germ. Those which 

 are most frequently mentioned, and used are those of Nowak, 

 Holth, Priez, and Fabyan. Recently (192 1) Stafseth and Huddle- 

 son have described culture media and methods of growing 

 Bact. abortus which differ from those already in use. The former 

 recommends a media prepared from liver and spleen. He states 

 that "strains of the abortion bacillus have been isolated more 

 easily by the aid of these media." A glass jar from which the 

 air was partially exhausted by a suction pump, was used in which 

 to grow the cultures. Huddleson emphasizes the importance 

 of an increased carbon dioxide-tension for growing Bact. 

 abortus Bang. His conclusions are as follows : 



"There is sufficient proof that: 

 "(1) The growth of Bact. abortus is not due to a reduced 

 oxygen tension. 



"(2) A carbon-dioxide tension greater than that of the air 

 governs and greatly facilitates the primary growth of 

 Bact. abortus. 



"(3) An atmosphere containing (by volume) 10 per cent, of 

 CO2 gas appears to produce the earliest and most lux- 

 uriant growth of Bact. abortus." 

 Huddleson recommends the use of a generator containing cal- 

 cium carbonate to which hydrochloride acid is added as a source 

 of the C0 2 . 



We have been working with Bact. abortus for many years and 

 have experienced the same difficulty of isolating the organism as 

 described by other authors. All the mentioned methods have 

 been used with more or less success. The abortion germ usually 

 grows with great difficulty in the cultures made from the original 



