Treponema hyodysenteriae growth under various culture conditions

The influence of various culture conditions on the growth of Treponema hyodysenteriae was determined. Six different anaerobically prepared culture broths were tested for the ability to support growth of strains B78, B204 and B169. Each medium contained glucose (0.2%) and 10% (v/v, final concn.) heat-inactivated fetal calf serum. Brain-heart infusion (BHIS), heart infusion (HS) and veal infusion (VS) broths gave the highest cell yields of the spirochete with the shortest incubation times. Vigorous mixing of the cultures and the introduction of O2 (1%, final concn.) into the culture atmosphere were necessary for optimum growth. Although BHIS broth was found to be the best for routine cultivation of the 3 strains, HS broth was more suitable for investigating the physiology of growing cells, inasmuch as cell growth in this medium was limited unless a growth substrate was added. Glucose, fructose, sucrose, galactose, trehalose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, glucosamine, mannose, maltose and pyruvate were growth substrates for all 3 strains. During the growth of B204 cells in HS broth under N2:O2 (99:1), glucose and O2 were consumed and CO2, H2, acetate and butyrate were produced. In HS agar-containing medium, cells of strains B78 and B204 formed spreading colonies typical in appearance to those of other spirochetes.