title: Unusual Sphaerophorus species from the large intestine of man.
abstract: An obligately anaerobic, gram-negative microorganism identified as a Sphaerophorus species was recovered from the fecal material of two cancer (chronic myelogenous leukemia and idiopathic thrombocythemia) patients receiving cobalt radiation therapy. The organism, isolated on sheep blood-agar, exhibited extreme pleomorphism (rods, filaments, and spheroids) and was a major component of the anaerobic fecal microflora. In one patient the numbers of Sphaerophorus species (designated as isolate 6-13-68), Bacteroides species, and Clostridium perfringens declined after irradiation; however, they were stable in this same patient after a second therapeutic dose of radiation. The numbers of anaerobes in the other patient remained fairly consistent after radiation. The biochemical and morphological characteristics and carbohydrate fermentation reactions of isolate 6-13-68 most closely resembled those of Sphaerophorus ridiculosis.
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D000818:Animals; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D001769:Blood; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000528:radiation effects; D003036:Cobalt Isotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003470:Culture Media; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000382:microbiology*; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000382:microbiology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D012756:Sheep; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000382:microbiology / Q000532:radiotherapy
chemical_list: D003036:Cobalt Isotopes; D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar