An Unknown Report for Microorganism #16: Salmonella typhimurium

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I identified the genus and species of an unknown bacterial culture, #16, and I applied the following knowledge of morphologic, cultural and metabolic characteristics of the unknown microorganism according to the laboratory manual as well as my class notes and power point print outs. I was given an incubated agar slant labeled #16 and a rack of different tests to either examine or perform myself; the tests are as follows: Gram Stain; Nutrient Gelatin Test; Carbohydrate Fermentation; Dextrose, Lactose and Sucrose; IMVIC tests; Citrate, Indole, Mythel-Red and Vogues Proskauer test; as well as a Urease and TSI Test.
Materials and Methods/Results
Upon receiving the unknown Microorganism (M.O.) #16, I prepared a slide by cleaning and drying it. Then, using a bottle of water I placed sterile drop of water on the slide and used an inoculating loop, flame sterilized, I took a small sample of the unknown growth in my agar slant and smeared it onto the slide in a dime sized circle and then heat fixed it for ten minutes. After ten minutes had passed, I collected the ingredients needed to perform a gram stain. I got the primary stain, crystal violet, and flooded my smear for sixty seconds, and then rinsed the color off with water until the water ran clear. I then flooded the smear with the mordant, grams iodine, and let that sit on the slide for sixty seconds as well. I then rinsed the grams iodine off with water and applied alcohol to the smear to decolorize the cells; however I made sure not to over decolorize and only put enough drops on the smear till the purple ran clear. I then rinsed the slide with water and flooded the smear with safranin the counter stain and let it sit for sixty seconds and then rinsed the color off with water. I blo...

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...nd headache are common; however, the cardinal manifestation is diarrhea. Fever and chills are also common. At least two-thirds of patients complain of abdominal cramps. The duration of fever and diarrhea varies, but is usually 2 to 7 days”. S. typhimurium can cause many problems for consumers when there is an outbreak in products. Some of the more recent products that have been contaminated and pulled from store shelves are, cantaloupes, ground beef and poultry products, according to the CDC. In all the cases some people were hospitalized. To treat the infection people had to rest and take antibiotics promptly.
So as you can see Salmonella typhimurium is a serious microorganism that can create a lot of havoc if it gets inside of a person’s system and although there are many ways to diagnosis it, it must be diagnosed quickly or a person could end up in the hospital.

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