THE DISTRIBUTION AND SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FAECAL STREPTOCOCCI IN BACON FACTORIES

Abstract

SUMMARY: A survey has been made of the numbers and types of group D faecal streptococci in three bacon factories. Although Streptococcus faecium , normally present in the gut of the pig and isolated from spoiled canned hams, was found, it was often outnumbered by Strep. faecalis , an indicator of human faecal contamination which is rare in the pig. The rôle of these two organisms in ham spoilage is discussed. The value of thallous acetate‐tetrazolium‐glucose agar for isolating and distinguishing these organisms has been demonstrated, and it is suggested that the method may have more general application where it is necessary to differentiate between faecal streptococci of human and animal origin.