Evaluation of Methanethiol and Hydrogen Sulfide Production by Standard Strains of Intestinal Bacteria and Isolates from Pig Feces

Abstract

Methanethiol and hydrogen sulfide generated from feces present an environmental issue in the intensive field of animal agriculture. We have identified four strains of clostridia and five others as methanethiol producers from a range of laboratory strains, which may be present in the large intestines of livestock. We have also isolated one Clostridium perfringens from pig feces as a potent producer of methanethiol. Unlike methanethiol from L-methionine, manylaboratory strains produced hydrogen sulfide from L-cystine.