Abstract
Witte 1 first showed that Trichomonas foetus could tolerate a pH range of 5.5 to 8.5. This was later confirmed by Ried-muller 2 who also reported that the optimal pH for T. foetus in pure culture was 6.5 to 7.5. Lyford 3 demonstrated the adaptability of T. foetus in pure cultures to various hydrogen-ion concentrations with final pH readings of 4.8 and 5.2. Morisita 4 stated the optimum pH for T. foetus ranged from 6.6 to 7.8; the flagellate could survive between 5.6 and 8.4; and the range during maximum growth was 5.4 to 5.6. Johnson 5 reported the population in relation to pH with a pure culture of T. vaginalis. Prior to this report, the relationship had not been completely established with T. foetus.
This paper is concerned with the correlation between pH and population of several pure culture strains and 2 strains of T. foetus in association with an atypical strain of Corynebacterium renalis.† This strain is unable to ferment dextrose.
Strain A,‡ originally isolated by Glaser and Coria, 6 strains B, and C, isolated by the writer, 7 and strain D, were used in this work. The culture medium used was a modification of Schneider's 8 citrate; whole egg and defibrinated bovine blood slants overlaid with 5% bovine serum in modified citrate solution, sterilized by autoclaving at 15 pounds pressure for 30 min. The pH of the fluid medium was adjusted with N/1 HCl or N/1 NaOH. The incubation temperature was 37° 1° C. The pH determinations were made with a Coleman 200 Electrometer which was checked against a standard buffer.
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