Distribution of anaerobic bacteria isolated from the area around Syowa Station in the Antarctic

Abstract

From the soil in the area around Syowa Station, East Ongul Island, Antarctica, 193 strains of clostridia were isolated and identified. It was interesting that many clostridia were contained in the soil samples taken from the places which were considered to be scarcely contaminated by human beings and animals. One hundred and fifty-five strains were assigned to 11 species, and C. perfringens, C. bifermentans and C. sordellii were isolated frequently, while C. sporogenes, C. plagarum, C. paraperfringens, C. septicum, C. tertium, C. cadaveris, C. butyricum and C. felsineum less frequently. The peculiar distribution and characteristics of the clostridia in the Antarctic soil were discussed in comparison with those found in the soil in Japan. 1) C. sordellii and C paraperfringens were never isolated from the soil in Japan. 2) Distribution of aerobes was less extensive than anaerobes in the Antarctic soil. 3) To the tetracycline group among antibiotics tested, the Antarctic strains were more susceptive than the control (Japan) strains.