Title

Determination of Aerobic and Anaerobic Microflora of Human Feces

Date

1964

Index Abstract

Not Available

Photo Quality

Not Needed

Report Number

AMRL TR 64-107

Creator

Gall, Lorraine S.

Riely, Phyllis E.

Corporate Author

Republic Aviation Corporation

Laboratory

Biomedical Laboratory

Extent

86

Identifier

AD0609325

Access Rights

OTS

Distribution Classification

1

Contract

AF 33(615)-1748

DoD Project

7164

DoD Task

716405

DTIC Record Exists

No

Distribution Change Authority Correspondence

None

Distribution Conflict

No

Abstract

The purpose of this study was the determination of the aerobic and anaerobic microflora of human feces and any effect, real or relative, of a space-type diet upon this flora. Fecal specimens from four young men confined in an experimental activity facility were cultured both aerobically and anaerobically thirteen times during a six-week period. During certain periods the men wore space suits. Two of the men were on an experimental space-type diet which was freeze-dehydrated. During this same time period the other two subjects were on a 'control' diet which contained identical foods, fresh and canned, in order to duplicate as nearly as possible the dehydrated diet from a nutritional viewpoint. Midway in the experiment the diets of the subjects were switched. The procedures used emphasized the anaerobic isolation of the predominating microorganisms using Gall's specialized technique. The aerobes were isolated and identified by standard procedures. An attempt was made to roughly quantitate the flora by the use of triplicate aerobic dilution series and by the plating from each dilution into differential media. Although the obligately anaerobic character of the flora remained constant, a shift was found in the types of anaerobic organisms isolated. This change in the biochemically distinct flora occurred after a sufficiently lengthy period on the diet to suggest that the diet was a contributing factory.

Report Availability

Full text available

Date Issued

1964-10

Provenance

RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine

Type

report

Format

1 online resource