Turbidimetric and diffusion assay of bacitracin in feeds

A manual turbidimetric method for determining zinc or methylene disalicylate bacitracin in feeds was developed. When zinc ions (10-4M) were added to the medium and the phosphate ion concentration in standard solutions was decreased to 1%, the median response of Streptococcus faecalis was about 0.038 unit. Feeds analyzed by the turbidimetric assay should be prewashed with petroleum ether and extracted with pyridine as in 42.204. Zinc bacitracin standards added to swine and broiler rations were recovered at 93.1-102.6% by the turbidimetric method. Excellent agreement between the manual turbidimetric method and the plate assay was also obtained for finished feeds containing the zinc or methylene disalicylate salt of the antibiotic. The turbidimetric method appears to have high accuracy and precision. It is more rapid and less costly than the plate assay.