title: In vitro susceptibility of spiroplasmas to heavy-metal salts.
abstract: The susceptibility of six spiroplasma strains to heavy-metal salt was characterized in terms of minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal biocidal concentrations in broth tube dilution tests. The strains were most susceptible to mercuric chloride and silver nitrate; less susceptible to copper sulfate, cobalt chloride, lead nitrate, and cadmium sulfate; and least susceptible to nickel chloride and zinc sulfate. Spiroplasma citri strains Maroc R8A2 and C189 were the most susceptible to five of eight heavy-metal salts, and honeybee spiroplasma strain AS576 and Spiroplasma floricola strain 23-6 were generally the least susceptible. The difference between the minimal biocidal concentrations and the minimal inhibitory concentrations was greater for certain heavy-metal salts than for others.
mesh_terms: D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013149:Spiroplasma / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals