The development of a selective medium for the Brucella abortus strains and its comparison with the currently recommended and used medium.
The Brucella spp. are fastidious and relatively slow-growing organisms. The isolation of such strains in a variety of specimens often requires the use of a selective medium to reduce or eliminate the growth of unexpected microorganisms. The modified Brucella selective (MBS) medium, which contains improved antibiotic mixtures, erythritol as the only carbon source, and neutral red as a pH indicator, showed good selectivity for the Brucella abortus strains, including the RB51 vaccine strain. Erythritol in the MBS medium was able to promote and/or recover the delayed growth of the B. abortus strains through the antibiotic mixtures. The Brucella colonies, which assumed a pinkish color at their central part, were easily differentiated from other organisms. The MBS medium also allows the isolation of the Brucella strains even in contaminated specimens and/or in specimens containing small numbers of viable organisms. Moreover, this medium can be applied to environmental samples for the isolation of the Brucella strains, and it can thus offer epidemiologic traceback sources for the dissemination or transfer of diseases. Therefore, the MBS medium can be applied as a useful tool of important control measures in the eradication programs.
Her
Moon
M
OIE Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis and Zoonosis Laboratory, Bacteriology and Parasitology Division, Veterinary Research Institute, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS), Anyang, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea. herm@nvrqs.go.kr
Cho
Dong-Hee
DH
Kang
Sung-Il
SI
Cho
Yun-Sang
YS
Hwang
In-Yeong
IY
Bae
You-Chan
YC
Yoon
Hachung
H
Heo
Young-Ran
YR
Jung
Suk-Chan
SC
Yoo
HanSang
H
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D004896:Erythritol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D009499:Neutral Red / Q000737:chemistry; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009499:Neutral Red; D004896:Erythritol