GROWTH STUDIES AND PLATE COUNTING OF LEPTOSPIRES

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Abstract
Microscopic and plate counts were done on cultures of Leptospira biflexa (I), L. pomona (II), and L. icterohemorrhagiae (HI). Comparisons of the counts showed that colonies arose from single cells and that plate counts can be used for determining the number of viable cells in leptospiral cultures. Growth curves were constructed using plate counts as indices of growth and generation times calculated. The generation times were 5.8 hours for (I), 9.3 hours for (II), and 11.6 hours for (III) in tryptose phosphate, rabbit serum media. Leptospiremias of guinea pigs infected with (II) were measured by plate counts. The importance of colony formation and plate counting of leptospires for future research are emphasized.