[The fecal flora of man. IV. Communication: Comparison of the newly developed method with the old conventional method for the analysis of intestinal flora (author's transl)]

Abstract

The results of 42 fecal flora analysis of healthy adult men were compared by using a newly developed method and an old conventional method. Statistical estimate indicate, that with the new method the total counts and the counts of bifidobacteria, catenabacteria (eubacteria and anaerobic lactobacilli), peptostreptococci, and clostridia (except Cl. perfringens) as well as the occurences of peptostreptococci and spirillaceae were significant higher than with the use of the old method. On the other hand the counts and occurences of bifidobacteria, veillonellae, Cl. perfringens, Megasphaerae and aerobes were similar with both method. With the new method the total counts of feces of healthy adult men nubmered 1-2 X 10(11) per g wet weight, and fastidious anaerobes, such as bacteroides, catenabacteria and peptostreptococci, were always occurred as predominant flora. The results suggest that the conventional anaerobic jar method is inadequate for the isolation of fastidiuos anaerobes and indicate that the use of modified medium 10 in combination with strict anaerobic technique is necessary for the analysis of fecal flora.