Reinforced Clostridial HiVeg™ Broth

Principle And Interpretation

Reinforced Clostridial HiVeg Broth is specially developed using HiVeg hydrolysate and HiVeg extract to avoid BSE/TSE risks associated with animal origin peptones and extracts. It is the modification of Reinforced Clostridial Broth which is formulated by Hirsch and Grinsted (1). It can be used to initiate growth from small inocula and to obtain the highest viable count of Clostridium species. This medium like the conventional medium can be used for diluting an inoculum of vegetative cells of Clostridium perfringens as suggested by Barnes and Ingram (2). It can be used in studies of spore forming anaerobes, especially Clostridium butyricum in cheese, for enumeration of Clostridium species in tube dilution counts. Other spore forming anaerobes, Streptococci and Lactobacilli also grow in these media. This is enriched but non-selective medium. HiVeg hydrolysate, yeast extract, HiVeg extract and starch, provide all the necessary nutrients for the growth of Clostridium species. Dextrose is a fermentable carbohydrate in the medium while sodium chloride maintains osmotic equilibrium. Cystine hydrochloride is the reducing agent whereas sodium acetate acts as buffer. This medium can be made selective by addition of 15-20 mg Polymyxin B per litre of media (1).