Studies on the Rumen Flagellate Sphaeromonas communis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The rumen flagellate S. communis showed a significant increase in population density 1-2 h after the host sheep commenced feeding, followed by a reduction in numbers of the pre-feeding level after another 2-3 h. The life-history of the organisms consists of a motile flagellate which germinated to produce a vegetative stage comprising a limited rhizoidal system on which up to 3 reproductive bodies were borne together with (in vitro) other spherical bodies of unknown function; in vivo, the reproductive bodies were stimulated to liberate flagellates by a component of the diet of the host. The vegetative stage strongly resembled that of certain species of aquatic phycomycete fungi, and the flagellates may therefore be zoospores. Flagellates liberated in vivo lost their motility within 2-3 h and had developed into the reproductive vegetative phase, producing a rapid decrease in numbers of flagellates. Conditions of maximum flagellate production (pH 6.5, 39.degree. C, presence of CO2, absence of O2) approximated to those found in the rumen. The organism was cultured in vitro in an undefined medium in the absence of bacteria and other flagellates.