AGf~ICULTURAL RESEARCH, PUSA.

OTIlER PYOGENIC ORGANISMS 261
OTHER ORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
COMMONER SUPPURATIVE CONDITIONS
BACILLUS PYOCYANEUS (P8endoJnonas aerll(Jinosa)
1I1ol'phology.-StTf.light rods; 1·5 to 3/,. by 0 ·5" ;
motile with OIle to three terminal flagella; nOllsporing.
Staining .-Gram -negati ve.
Cultwre.-Aerobe and facultative anaerobe; temperature
range-18°-.!.3° C., optirnum-30o-37° C.;
grows on ordinary media.
Agar-stroke inoculation produces an abundant,
moist, greenish - blue growth; the pigment (" pyocyanin
"), on which the colour depends, also diffuses
through the medium. Pigment is most abundantly
produced at room tempel"utnre.
This organism forms also [t yellowish-green fluorescent
pigment named" f1uorescin," which is thc characteristic product
of an allied saprophytic urgunislll, B. /llIurc;:;ccns.
Gelatin-liquefied, with a greenish-blue coloration.
Potato-growth is similar to that on agar but the
pigment alters, as a result of oxidation, to a bl'ownish
colour.
Occn1'l'ence.-Suppurating wounds, usually in mixed
infection with pyogenic cocci; otitis media, etc. This
organism may occur as a commensal in the bowel of
man and animals. In young subjects it may give rise
to enteritis and may even produce a gcneral infcction.
Organisms COlTcspondillg to B. 'pyocyanclls and B .
. flllorcsCCJl8 (vide sU]Jl'a) oceur naturally in sewage,
water and soil, and may also be found on the human
skill.
BACILLUS PROTEUS (proteus)
JJ1.ol'phology.-Straight rods about same size as
B. ]J,ljocyancl.l8; pleomorphic; motile with lateral
flagella; non-sporing.