Isolation and characterization of two rumen Streptococcus bovis bacteriophages

A method for the isolation of Streptococcus bovis bacteriophages from ruminal fluid of calves is described. Thirty to 2 x 10(3) phages per ml infecting Streptococcus bovis strains 4/1 and 47/3 were isolated directly from ruminal fluid. Two bacteriophages were characterized on the basis of plaque morphology, host ranges, electron microscopic morphology and DNA restriction endonuclease digestion patterns. The F1 and F3 phages formed clear plaques of different sizes. The plaque size of the F1 phage was about 1-1.5 mm in diameter, while the plaques of the F3 phage were larger (1.5-2.5 mm in diameter). Both phages are placed in group B of Bradley's scheme and have different host ranges. The first isolation of Streptococcus bovis phage DNA is reported. Restriction analysis of their DNAs showed that phages F1 and F3 had different numbers of cleavage sites in their genomes and that they were not identical.