Studies have indicated that DDD appears in those samples which are 
permitted to decompose some time after sacrifice and not in those samples 
analyzed immediately (80). An isolate, Proteus vulgaris, from a mouse 
intestinal flora converted DDT to DDD (82). This organism, commonly 
found in the gut of mice and other animals, quickly invades dead tissue 
and could be assumed to be an agent, if not the sole one, in the con- 
version of DDT to DDD in animals exposed to DDT. DDD, in turn, was 
metabolized by Proteus vulgaris to three compounds: (1) 1,1'-bis- 
(p-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethane; (2) 1,1'-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-ethane; 
(3) 1,1'-bis-(p-chlorophenyl-2-chloroethylene;(81). 
It has been shown that bovine rumen fluid was capable of converting 
DDT to DDD (1012), and that bacteria from the intestines of flies (Stomoxys 
calcitrans L.) converted DDT to DDE and DDD (1352). 
Aerobacter aerogenes converted p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT to the corresponding 
DDD (974). Studies to elucidate the metabolic pathway involved in degra-~ 
dation of DDT indicated that DDD, DDMU DDMS, DDNU DDOH, DDA and DBP were 
formed (1470, 1471, 1472). Using 2-deuterioethane-labeled DDT, the direct 
formation of DDD from DDT was demonstrated (1626, 1680). 
Extensive studies showed that many microorganisms were capable of 
metabolizing DDT to DDD primarily. Some DDE was generally found also 
(258, 738, 852, 975, 1554): 
Achromobacter sp. Kurthia zopfii 
Aerobacter aerogenes Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
Agrobacterium tumefaciens Pseudomonas fluorescens 
Bacillus cereus Pseudomonas glycinea 
Bacillus cereus mycoides Pseudomonas marginalis 
Bacillus subtilis Pseudomonas mors—prunorum 
Clostridium pasteurianum Pseudomonas syringae 
Clostridium perfringens Pseudomonas tabaci 
Corynebacterium michiganense Streptococcus bovis 
Escherichi coli Streptococcus durans 
Erwinia amylovora Streptococcus faecalis 
Erwinia ananas Streptococcus faecium 
Erwinia carotovora Streptococcus liquifaciens 
Erwinia chrysanthemi Streptococcus zymogenus 
Erwinia sp. 
Several unidentified organisms of the genera bacteroides, lactobacillus, 
sarcina, aeromonas and yeast were also capable of metabolizing DDT to DDD 
and/or DDE. Micrococcus did not degrade DDT (1554, 1647). 
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