Enhancement of growth and toxin production of Clostridium argentinense by co-culture with Pseudomonas mendocina.

The growth and toxin production of Clostridium argentinense in co-culture with Pseudomonas mendocina was examined in a micro-fermenter without aeration characterizing the association in terms of several growth parameters. The biomass obtained in co-cultures was 4.4 times higher than that in C.

Infant botulism during a one year period in San Luis, Argentina.

Five cases of infant botulism which occurred during the period from May 1995 to May 1996 in San Luis, Argentina, are reported. Infant botulism was confirmed in all patients by isolation of Clostridium botulinum type A from stool culture and by the toxin assay. Toxin was found in the serum of one of them.

Selection of a strain of Clostridium argentinense producing high titers of type G botulinal toxin.

The strain G89HT of Clostridium argentinense obtained by culture selection of the prototype G89 strain producing high titers of type G botulinal toxin was studied. Its cultural, biochemical and toxigenic characteristics and the presence of plasmids were tested. Both strains showed similar physiological features and carried a 83 MDa plasmid.

[Detection of Clostridium botulinum spores in honey].

A total of 177 honey samples were examined for Clostridium botulinum, 68 of which were from commercial origin, 8 from small rural producers for family consumption, and the remaining 6 from fractionizing centers in Mendoza and San Luis provinces in Argentina. C. botulinum type A was detected in two samples of rural producer origin (1.

[Utility of pyrrolidonyl-arylamidase detection for typing Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria].

Detection of pyrrolidonyl-aryl-amidase activity (PYR) is an important tool to identify gram-positive cocci, such as staphylococci, enterococci, streptococci, and other related genera. However, only few studies evaluating its usefulness with gram-negative rods have been published. Thus, a prospective study including 542 and 215 unique clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermentative gram-negative rods, respectively, was undertaken.