ECONOMIC AND RAPID DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR DETECTION OF SALMONELLA-SHIGELLA USING POLYVALENT SALMONELLA-PHAGEN O-1

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 240  (1) , 7-15
Abstract
An easy, rapid and economic 2-step procedure was described for the detection of Salmonella/Shigella. In the 1st step the susceptibility of suspected colonies for the phage 0-1 of Felix and Callow is tested. Positive cultures are serologically confirmed. The test was performed on Triple Sugar Iron Agar and lasted 4-6 h. Phage negative cultures which are lactose and sucrose negative are tested for lysine decarboxylase and, if Shigella is possible (i.e., in human material on primary plates), for indol production and motility in a semisolid tryptophan agar. Of 22,880 Salmonella strains, 21,977, i.e., 96.1%, were phage-sensitive. Strains belonging to certain O-groups (OE) or species are lysed at a lower percentage. Since they are lysine decarboxylase positive they are not lost and can be submitted to serological examination.