Skirrow agar for simultaneous isolation of Brucella and Campylobacter species. species
Terzolo, H.R.; Paolicchi, F.A.; Moreira, A.R.; Homse, A.
Veterinary Record 129(24): 531-532
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 1788919 Document Number: 387689
The succesful use of Skirrow agar to isolate Brucella abortus biotype 1 and Campylobacter fetus from bovine fetal abomasum contents and its subsequent use to isolate B. abortus biotype 1 from contaminated samples such as bovine vaginal exudates and milk is reported. Similar results were obtained when B. abortus biovars 1 and 2, B. ovis, B. melitensis, B. suis and B. canis were incubated in two microaerophilic atmospheres (10% carbon dioxide in air and 6% oxygen, 10% carbon dioxide and hydrogen) on blood agar base and Skirrow agar. Inocula as small as 2 organisms/ml could be detected. In contrast on Farrell agar the growth of B. ovis was completely inhibited and B. abortus grew only very slowly. In studies of brucellosis in rams and sheep it was found that the addition of 5 micro g/ml of trimethoprim (crystalline) to vancomycin - collistin methanesulfonate - nystatin (VCN) medium (VCNT) or the use if Skirrow agar improved the isolation rate of B. ovis and also allowed the occasional isolation of B. suis and B. melitensis from very contaminated ram serum samples. These media were also used to isolate B. ovis from sheep experimentally inoculated with the bacterium. A study with 11 field isolates of B. ovis showed that the growth of 10 isolates was similar in bovine blood agar base, VCNT agar and Skirrow agar; the remaining B. ovis strain grew on Skirrow and bovine blood agar base but was completely inhibited on VCNT agar.