QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Halbrook, E. R. Articles by Sutton, T. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Halbrook, E. R. Articles by Sutton, T. S.

Vitamin B₁₂ Production by Microorganisms Isolated from Poultry House Litter and Droppings

Departments of Poultry Husbandry and Agricultural Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus

1. Only 2.8% of 142 isolations of microorganisms from poultry house litter and droppings which were studied for vitamin B₁₂ production produced no detectable quantity (less than 0.01 mµg per milliliter of broth) of vitamin B₁₂ activity as determined by microbiological assay with Lactobacillus leichmannii (A.T.C.C. 4797); 32.3% produced between 0.01 and 0.10; 22.5% between 0.1 and 0.4; and 42.2% more than 0.4 mµg per milliliter of broth.

2. Vitamin B₁₂ production studies at 30° to 37°C. showed that 62.3% of the isolated organisms produced better at 30°C. than at 37°C., and 37.7% produced better at 37°C.

3. The addition of 0.2% of choline chloride to the vitamin B₁₂ production medium reduced the total production of vitamin B₁₂ of 14 of the organisms studied by 33%. Only two of the 14 produced better (but only slightly) with the addition of choline chloride.

4. Thirty-three organisms, which were selected as being the better vitamin B₁₂ producers, produced an average change in the vitamin B₁₂ production medium from an original pH of 7.0 to 6.0 after incubation for 72 hours at 30°C. and to 6.3 after incubation for the same period at 37°C. Only 9 of the organisms produced an alkaline reaction at one or both temperatures. The lowest pH recorded was 3.1 and the highest was 7.7.

5. Among the better vitamin B₁₂-producing organisms isolated from poultry house litter and droppings were yeast, molds, and many classes of bacteria. One organism was isolated which produced more vitamin B₁₂ as measured microbiologically than either Bacillus megatherium, Streptomyces aureofaciens or Streptomyces griseus under our test conditions. This organism has been tentatively identified as a strain of Aerobacter aerogenes.

Manuscript received 11 March 1950.