Abstract
An acid-fast organism isolated from human and rat leprous lesions in tissue cultures, has been described. 1 It is believed that this organism represents the true etiological agent of leprosy because the same organism has been isolated from several human nodules and from rat granuloma.
Acid-fast organisms were present only when minced chick embryo was used as the culture medium. On ordinary lifeless media the organisms failed to retain the fuchsin dye, but took the counter-stain.
It was also found 2 that the ability of an organism to retain the acid-fast stain in minced chick embryo medium is not a phenomenon characteristic of the true bacteria (Eubacteriales), but restricted so far to organisms classified with other orders (Actinomycetales, etc.).
The question that naturally arose was whether or not the organisms became acid-fast when inoculated into minced tissues obtained from laboratory animals. Organs from full grown rabbits, guinea pigs and rats were used. The tissues were removed aseptically and minced separately in tissue grinders. The minced tissues were mixed with Tyrode solution in the following proportion: Minced tissue, 1 part; Tyrode solution, 5 parts. The media were pipetted into test tubes, about 3 cc. to each tube, after which they were ready for use.
Growth occurred within 48 hours in all of the cultures with the exception of those made with rat tissues. The results from rat tissues were much poorer than from media prepared by mincing rabbit and guinea pig tissues. Only very few acid-fast organisms were observed, and the growth was very poor.
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