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Total Counts of Bacillus megaterium and Clostridium butyricum Spore Suspensions using a Microlitre Syringe
Author(s) -
Marshall Anne C.,
Rigby G. J.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1970.tb02244.x
Subject(s) - bacillus megaterium , spore , clostridium butyricum , hemocytometer , syringe , suspension (topology) , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , chromatography , chemistry , food science , medicine , bacteria , biochemistry , mathematics , genetics , psychiatry , homotopy , fermentation , pure mathematics
Summary. A method for making total counts based on counting every organism in a small accurately measured volume of a suspension, using the microlitre syringe and phase contrast microscopy, has been described. Total counts of a Bacillus megaterium and a Clostridium butyricum spore suspension made by this method have been compared with haemocytometer chamber counts. The syringe method, although tedious, has the advantage that extraneous particles are easily identified. In certain circumstances a total and a colony count can be done on the same suspension using the syringe to deliver the same volume for both counts. The low percentage colony counts of many spore suspensions are probably not related to errors in the total counts, nor to manipulative errors in the colony counts, but are more probably related to the composition of the medium used for the colony counts.