Distribution of Butyrivibrio Fibrisolvens in Nature

Abstract

Seven strains of anaerobic, gram-negative, monotrichous, butyric acid-producing curved rods have been isolated from fecal material of human beings, rabbits, and horses in concentrations approaching 1 × 106 per gram. No two of the isolates were identical in all physiological reactions, and all strains showed similarities to strains of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens previously described from bovine ruminal ingesta. B. fibrisolvens has previously been demonstrated to be an important rumen organism. Its isolation from rabbits suggests a simple mechanism of transmission of rumen organisms among ruminants. Its isolation from humans suggests the applicability of methods, designed for fastidious rumen microorganisms, to the culture of a large portion of the human intestinal flora which is yet to be described. Chromatographic analysis of human fecal material revealed close similarities between the fermentation products of Butyrivibrio and the proportions of fatty acids in the human intestinal tract. © 1960, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.