MORPHOLOGY OF SULFUR GRANULES PRODUCED BY PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA IN COWS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 21  (1) , 26-31
Abstract
A sulfur granule produced by P. aeruginosa in 3 cows was studied by light microscopy and EM. It consisted of clumps of basophilic bacteria and eosinophilic clubs. The clubs radiated from the periphery outward. The bacteria were stained dark red by both periodic acid-Schiff and MacCallum-Goodpasture staining. The sulfur granule consisted of electron-dense amorphous material and bacteria. The intact bacterium was about 0.45 .mu.m in diameter and had an electron-dense cell wall 15 nm in width. Beneath the cell wall, moderately electron-dense fine granular material was present. The center of the bacterium was electron lucent. The club was electron-dense amorphous material. Degenerative bacteria and pilus-like structures were often seen in it. In 1 case, clusters of bacteriophages were present in and near the degenerative bacteria. Their head was hexagonal and 40 nm in diameter.