Studies on the Sensitivity of Several Strains in Genus Spirillum to Some Chemicals : (Part 1) Sensitivity of Spirilla Strains to Some Disinfectants and Surfactants

Sensitivity of five strains of Spirilla to ten popular disinfectants and eight surfactants were examined by MIC and MBC methods. Three strains of Aquaspirilla and two strains of Oceanospirilla were used. As the control, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were used. The experimental results are as follows : 1) All strains of Aquaspirilla showed clearly higher sensitivity to disinfectants than the control. However, strains of Oceanospirilla showed more resistance to disinfectants than those of Aquaspirilla. 2) The MBC values were higher than the MIC values. 3) The bactericidal effect of surfactants was very low, except in cases of Osvan, Hyamine and Tego. 4) The bactericidal effect of ethanol was remarkable, that is, this alcohol killed all the strains used at the concentration of 10-40% within ten minutes. The data filled up the blank of the basic bacteriological studies in genus Spirillum. Moreover, these results will be useful, if the Spirilla would be noticed as the important place in the opportunistic infection. Furthermore, most of Spirilla are well known as the free living bacteria. Therefore, they will be available as the markers in the investigation of water pollution, because of their higher sensitivity to many kinds of chemicals as well as disinfectants.