[Daphnia magna Straus as consumers of enteropathogenic bacteria]

The ability of Daphnia magna Straus to digest enteropathogenic bacteria, i.e. Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia was studied in a series of experiments. High antibacterial activity of Daphnia magna Straus against these enteropathogenic bacteria was demonstrated by bacteriological and radionuclide methods. Thus, on the 3d-5th day of experiment a complete water clearance was observed in experimental flasks where Daphnia were fed Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia, while attempts to isolate bacteria from these flasks ended in failure. Radionuclide studies disclosed active assimilation of the degradation products of enteropathogenic bacteria by Daphnia throughout the entire experiment.