The characterization of the rumen bacterium Eadie's oval, Magnoovum gen. nov. eadii sp. nov

Niche in Pasture-Fed Ruminants for the Large Rumen Bacteria Oscillospira, Lampropedia, and Quin's and Eadie's Ovals

The little-studied large bacteria Oscillospira, Lampropedia, and ovals attach rapidly in large numbers to the cuticular surface of clover and grass leaves in the rumen. The cuticle of green leaves may constitute a specific niche for these bacteria.

Flow cytometric sorting, phylogenetic analysis and in situ detection of Oscillospira guillermondii, a large, morphologically conspicuous but uncultured ruminal bacterium

Flow cytometric sorting based on its large cell size enabled an enriched fraction of Oscillospira guillermondii cells to be obtained from the rumen contents of a sheep. Phylogenetic analysis based on cloned 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the bacterium is a member of the low-G+C Gram-positive bacterial cluster. Sporobacter termitidis and Papillibacter cinnamivorans were the most closely related known species, with sequence similarities of only 86.3-88.1 %. Fluorescently labelled 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes specific for Oscillospira were designed and applied to the rumen sample from which the enriched fraction was obtained. The probes hybridized specifically with the large, morphologically conspicuous Oscillospira cells.

Seasonal changes in the ruminal microflora of the high-arctic Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus)

The dominant rumen bacteria in high-arctic Svalbard reindeer were characterized, their population densities were estimated, and ruminal pH was determined in summer, when food quality and availability are good, and in winter, when they are poor. In summer the total cultured viable population density was (2.09 +/- 1.26) X 10(10) cells ml-1, whereas in winter it was (0.36 +/- 0.29) X 10(10) cells ml-1, representing a decrease to 17% of the summer population density. On culture, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens represented 22% of the bacterial population in summer and 30% in winter. Streptococcus bovis represented 17% of the bacterial population in summer but only 4% in winter. Methanogenic bacteria were present at 10(4) cells ml-1 in summer and 10(7) cells ml-1 in winter. In summer and winter, respectively, the proportions of the viable population showing the following activities were as follows: starch utilization, 68 and 63%; fiber digestion, 31 and 74%; cellulolysis, 15 and 35%; xylanolysis, 30 and 58%; proteolysis, 51 and 28%; ureolysis, 40 and 54%; and lactate utilization, 13 and 4%. The principal cellulolytic bacterium was B. fibrisolvens, which represented 66 and 52% of the cellulolytic population in summer and winter, respectively. The results indicate that the microflora of the rumen of Svalbard reindeer is highly effective in fiber digestion and nitrogen metabolism, allowing the animals to survive under the austere nutritional conditions typical of their high-arctic habitat.

The rumen microbiology of seaweed digestion in Orkney sheep

The microbial populations of the rumens of seaweed-fed and pasture-fed Orkney sheep were examined. The populations in the pasture-fed sheep were similar to those of other domestic ruminants fed on land plants, but those of the seaweed-fed animals showed major differences in the dominant species. Total ciliate populations were quantitatively similar, but in the seaweed-fed animals Dasytricha ruminantium was one of the most dominant species. No phycomycete fungi or cellulolytic bacteria were found in the seaweed-fed animals, and the bacterial population was dominated by Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas ruminantium, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and lactate-utilizing species. Electron microscopy revealed that spirochaetes and an unidentified filamentous bacterium were probably of major significance in seaweed digestion. The ability of bacterial strains from both groups of animals to metabolize plant and algal constituents was examined.