Abstract
Spirochetes from a variety of salt marsh sediments were enumerated and isolated directly by using a prereduced complex medium containing rifampin as a selective agent. Based on cell morphology, the spirochetal strains isolated were divided into two groups, a group consisting of “tightly coiled” spirochetes and a group consisting of “loosely coiled” spirochetes. Generally, spirochete colony-forming units ranged between 104 and 106 per gram wet weight of the top 1 cm of sediment. Spirochete colony-forming units were in greater abundance in the uppermost 1–2 cm of sediment than in sediment taken from depths of 3–5 cm. Apparently, the top 1 or 2 cm of salt marsh sediment can provide a favorable habitat for certain spirochetal species.
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Weber, F.H., Peter Greenberg, E. Rifampin as a selective agent for the enumeration and isolation of spirochetes from salt marsh habitats. Current Microbiology 5, 303–306 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01567923
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01567923