Kligler’s Iron Agar Test
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The Kligler’s Iron Agar test employs a medium for the identification of Enterobacteriaceae, based on double sugar fermentation and hydrogen sulphide production.
Principle
Hydrogen sulfide determinations using Kligler Iron Agar should be limited to members of Enterobacteriaceae.
Media:
Composition of Kligler’s Iron Agar
- Beef extract: 3 gm
- Yeast extract: 3 gm
- Peptone: 15 gm
- Proteose peptone: 5 gm
- Lactose 10 gm
- Glucose: 1 gm
- Ferrous sulfate: 0.2 gm
- Sodium chloride: 5 gm
- Sodium thiosulfate: 0.3 gm
- Agar: 12 gm
- Phenol red: 0.024 gm
- Distilled water to equal 1 L
- Final pH : 7.4
Method
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1. Stab the center of the medium into the deep of
the tube to within 3-5mm from the bottom.
2. Withdraw the inoculating Loop and streak the
surface of the slant.
3. Loosen closure on the tube before incubating.
4. Incubate aerobically at 35ºC. for 18-24 hours.
5. Read tubes for acid production of the
slant/butt, gas, and hydrogen sulfide reactions.
Expected Results
1-uninoculated
2-Glucose (+), Lactose(+),Hydrogen sulfide (-),Gas(-)
3-Glucose (+), Lactose(+),Hydrogen sulfide (-),Gas(+)
3-Glucose (+), Lactose(-),Hydrogen sulfide (-),Gas(-)
4-Glucose (+), Lactose(-),Hydrogen sulfide (+),Gas(-)
Carbohydrate Fermentation:
- Red slant/ yellow butt –
dextrose (+), lactose (-)
- Yellow slant/ yellow butt –
dextrose (+), lactose (+)
- Red slant/ red butt – dextrose
(-), lactose (-)
Hydrogen Sulfide Production:
- Positive Test – Black color
- Negative Test – No black color
Gas Production:
- Positive Test – Bubbles in the
medium, cracking and displacement of the medium, or separation of the
medium from the side and bottom of the tube
- Negative Test – No bubbles and
no separation or displacement of the medium.
Uses
- The test is recommended for the
differential identification of gram-negative enteric bacilli from clinical
and non clinical samples on the basis of the fermentation of dextrose,
lactose and H2S production.
- It is used as a differentiation
medium for typhoid, dysentery and allied bacilli.
- It differentiates Salmonella
Typhi from other Salmonellae and also Salmonella Paratyphi A from
Salmonella Scottmuelleri and Salmonella Enteritidis.
- Kligler Iron Agar test
differentiates lactose fermenters from the nonfermenters.
Limitations
- Failure to stab the butt
invalidates this test.
- Certain species or strains may
give delayed reactions or completely fail to ferment the carbohydrate in
the stated manner.
- Results should be noted after
18-24 hours. Else it might result in erroneous results.
- Pure cultures are essential
when inoculating Kligler Iron Agar. If inoculated with a mixed culture,
irregular observations may occur.
- Hydrogen sulfide producing
organisms may produce a black precipitate to such a degree that the
reaction in the butt is completely masked. If hydrogen sulfide is
produced, dextrose is fermented even if it is not observed.
References
www.time2026end.com
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