Volatile ketones from interdigital glands of black-tailed deer,Odocileus hemionus columbianus

Three volatile ketones, 2-tridecanone, (E)-3-tridecen-2-one and (E)-4-tridecen-2-one were identified in interdigital gland extracts from black-tailed deer,Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. The major compound, (E)-3-tridecen-2-one, inhibited the growth of several species of fungi and grampositive bacteria. The bacterium,Propionibacterium acnes, and the fungus,Trichophyton mentagrophytes required a minimum concentration (MIC) of 12.5 µg/ml and 25 µg/ml, respectively, for inhibition, (E)-3-Tridecen-2-one represents a new class of lipid antibiotics found on animal skin. The second major compound is this secretion, 2-tridecanone, was not active against any of the organisms tested.