Isolation and incidence of pleuropneumonia-like organisms from the human oral cavity

Shklair, I. L. (U. S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.), M. A. Mazzarella, R. R. Gutekunst, and E. M. Kiggins. Isolation and incidence of pleuropneumonia-like organisms from the human oral cavity. J. Bacteriol. 83:785-788. 1962.-Pleuropneumonia-like organisms (PPLO) were isolated from the oral cavity of 87.2% (184 of 211) of young male naval recruits, by use of an enriched medium under anaerobic conditions. Aerobically, the organisms were isolated from 75% (78 of 104) of the subjects. However, aerobic cultivation was not the method of choice for the isolation of these organisms, as only a few colonies of PPLO were found. These colonies were atypical, or incomplete, and could not be further subcultured either aerobically or anaerobically. With anaerobic procedures, typical PPLO colonies developed and they could be subcultured anaerobically. The PPLO were isolated by adding saliva or gingival scrapings to 8 ml of PPLO broth enriched with 10% horse serum and 1% yeast autolysate. In addition, thallium acetate (1:2,000) and penicillin (3,000 units/ml) were added to prevent bacterial overgrowth. The broth was incubated at 37 C for 48 hr; 0.1 ml was then spread on PPLO agar enriched with the above nutrients and thallium acetate. The plates were incubated at 37 C for 48 hr. The broth and agar plates were adjusted to a pH of 7.8 to 8.0. Both PPLO and L forms were isolated by the above procedure.

Motile streptococci isolated from the oropharyngeal region

Five strains of motile, alpha hemolytic streptococci were isolated during a systematic study of 820 oropharyngeal specimens for group D streptococci. The motile streptococci contain the Lancefield group D somatic polysaccharide. Photomicrographs record the presence of flagella in stained preparations. It appears both practical and expedient to classify these motile group D streptococci as another variety of Streptococcus faecalis.

Defect in small millipore filters disclosed by new technique for isolating oral treponemes

Three Millipore filters (100, 50, and 10 mmicro) can effectively and easily be used to isolate oral spirochetes from a mixed oral inoculum. The spirochetes appear pure in the underlying agar, owing to their ability to grow through the filter. Their passage through the 10-mmicro filters may be attributed to the instability of this pore size on storage.