Carbon Sources Assimilation Tests: Comparison Between a Conventional Method and a Microtechnic (API), in Study of Enterobacteriaceae

Abstract

Assimilation of different carbon sources by 145 bacteria belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae was studied by two methods: a conventional auxanographic method and a standardized micromethod (API strips) especially developed for these tests. 119 substrates were compared and complementary studies were carried out for tests showing discrepancies. A correlation was found for 108 of the 119 tests. In the remaining cases, complementary studies demonstrated that differences in substrate concentration may explain some discrepancies. It was concluded that API strips may be used to perform these assimilation studies and that substrate concentrations is the most important variable factor.