CHARACTERISTICS OF ENTEROCOCCI AND STAPHY LOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM THE CROP AND CECUM OF JAPANESE-QUAILS EXPOSED TO MICROGRAVITY CONDITIONS

Ten selected strains of enterococci and staphylococci were isolated fr om the crop and caecum of Japanese quails exposed to microgravity cond itions. Isolates were allotted to the species Enterococcus gallinarum, Ent. avium, Ent. faecium , Staphylococcus gallinarum and Staph. aureu s. Isolated strains were facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, Gram-pos itive cocci, occurring in pairs, short chains or irregular clusters. I solates utilized most of the soluble sugars tested and produced bacter iocin-like substances. Enterococci and staphylococci were resistant to monensin (50 mg/l) and sensitive to tylosin and virginiamycin (10 mg/ l).