Establishment of Microorganisms Isolated from Chickens in the Digestive Tract of Germ‐Free Chickens

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Germ‐free chickens were monocontaminated or dicontaminated with microorganisms isolated from the cecal contents and feces of chickens. In the case of monocontamination, the viable number of organisms in the alimentary tract considerably varied depending on the species or genus. Staphylococcus epidennidis. Streptococcus faecalis var. liquefaciens and Escherichia coli became established in much larger numbers in germ‐free chickens than in ordinary birds. While Bifidobacterium thermophilum and Catenabacterium sp. were unable to become established, other anaerobic organisms and a strain of yeast became established almost at the same level as in the ordinary microflora. Anaerobic non‐sporeforming gram‐positive rods (AR), which were occasionally found in the ordinary chickens, were always well established throughout the gut of monocontaminated birds. In the case of dicontamination, the numbers of S. epidermidis, Catenabacterium sp. and B. thermophilum were comparable to those in the ordinary microflora. Growth of S. epidermidis was suppressed by E. coli. Catenabacterium sp. and B. thermophilum became well established when given in combination with other bacteria, except that the establishment of B. thermophilum in combination with Catenabacterium sp. was irregular. Growth of AR was prevented when administered together with E. coli. On the other hand, the numbers of E. coli and S. faecalis var. liquefaciens were continuously large even in the presence of any other bacterium.