Thermophilic actinomycetes [THERMO]
Published: July 8th, 2009
Revised: March 27th, 2019
This test determines the presence of culturable thermophilic actinomycetes in bulk and swab samples. Test results are provided semiquantitatively as 1+, 2+. 3+, etc., where the number preceding the “plus sign” indicates the order of magnitude of colonies observed.
Actinomycetes are a large and diverse group of Gram-positive bacteria that have growth habits similar to fungi in that they produce branching networks of filaments. Thermophilic actinomycetes occur in a wide range of habitats including common materials such as self-heating plant matter and manure composts. They are also known from highly specialized habitats such as birds’ nests, volcanic vents and hot springs. The term thermophilic refers to the fact that the actinomycetes in question grow optimally at temperatures above 40 °C. Other groups of actinomycetes are known to occur at moderate or extreme cold temperatures.
Actinomycetes are notable as prolific producers of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Indeed in this regard, they tend to be much more active than most fungi. Some of the mVOCs commonly produced by actinomycetes are responsible largely for the mouldy or musty odours associated with soils as well as damp basements. Actinomycetes are also extremely active producers of antimicrobial chemicals. Many of the naturally produced antimicrobial drugs in common use today are derived from actinomycetes (e.g. streptomycin, nystatin, and tetracycline). Inhalation exposure to cells and other materials colonized by actinomycetes has been associated with respiratory diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This is particularly evident in agricultural settings where actinomycete exposures are known to play a role in the disease known as Farmer’s Lung.
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Psychrophilic actinomycetes [PSYCHRO]
Published: July 8th, 2009
Revised: February 23rd, 2023
This test determines the presence of culturable psychrophilic actinomycetes in bulk and swab samples. Results of this test are provided semiquantiatively, as 1+, 2+, 3+, etc., where the numeral preceding the “plus sign” indicates the order of magnitude of colonies recovered in culture.
Actinomycetes are a large and diverse group of Gram-positive bacteria that have growth habits similar to fungi in that they produce branching networks of filaments. Psychrophilic actinomycetes grow optimally at low temperatures, particularly below 15°C. They occur in a variety of habitats, particularly soils. They are also known from highly specialized habitats such as glaciers, antarctic rocks, and penguin rookeries. Other groups of actinomycetes are known to occur at moderate temperatures or in the presence of extreme heat.
Actinomycetes are notable as prolific producers of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Indeed in this regard, they tend to be much more active than most fungi. Some of the mVOCs commonly produced by actinomycetes are responsible largely for the mouldy or musty odours associated with soils as well as damp basements. Actinomycetes are also extremely active producers of antimicrobial chemicals. Many of the naturally produced antimicrobial drugs in common use today are derived from actinomycetes (e.g. streptomycin, nystatin, and tetracycline). Inhalation exposure to cells and other materials colonized by actinomycetes has been associated with respiratory diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This is particularly evident in agricultural settings where actinomycete exposures are known to play a role in the disease known as Farmer’s Lung.
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Mesophilic actinomycetes [MESO]
Published: July 8th, 2009
Revised: February 23rd, 2023
This test determines the presence of culturable mesophilic actinomycetes in bulk and swab samples. Test results are provided semiquantitatively as 1+, 2+. 3+, etc., where the number preceding the “plus sign” indicates the order of magnitude of colonies observed.
Actinomycetes are a large and diverse group of Gram-positive bacteria that have growth habits similar to fungi in that they produce branching networks of filaments. Mesophilic actinomycetes occur in a wide range of habitats including common materials such as soil and plant matter, as well as highly specialized habitats like marine buoys, ant exoskeletons and paleolithic cave paintings. The term mesophilic refers to the fact that the actinomycetes in question grow optimally at temperatures between 15–40 °C. Other groups of actinomycetes are known to occur at extreme hot or cold temperatures.
Actinomycetes are notable as prolific producers of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs). Indeed in this regard, they tend to be much more active than most fungi. Some of the mVOCs commonly produced by actinomycetes are responsible largely for the mouldy or musty odours associated with soils as well as damp basements. Actinomycetes are also extremely active producers of antimicrobial chemicals. Many of the naturally produced antimicrobial drugs in common use today are derived from actinomycetes (e.g. streptomycin, nystatin, and tetracycline). Inhalation exposure to cells and other materials colonized by actinomycetes has been associated with respiratory diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. This is particularly evident in agricultural settings where actinomycete exposures are known to play a role in the disease known as Farmer’s Lung.
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Heterotrophic plate count, semiquantitative [HPC-S]
Published: July 8th, 2009
Revised: March 25th, 2023
This test measures total culturable bacteria contained in a swab collected without consideration to a specific surface area. For swabs collected from a specific surface area, please use test HPC-Q). The swab is cultured on Tryptic Soy Agar and incubating at 35 °C for a minimum of 48 hr prior to analysis. At the end of the incubation period, bacterial colonies are counted and reported as trace, 1+, 2+, 3+, or 4+, where the numeral preceding the “plus sign” indicates the order of magnitude of the number of colonies observed.
Laboratory code: HPC-S
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Heterotrophic plate count, quantitative [HPC-Q]
Published: July 8th, 2009
Revised: March 21st, 2023
This test measures total culturable bacteria contained in a sample of bulk material, fluid or area-based swab by culturing a measured amount of the sample on Tryptic Soy Agar and incubating at 35 °C for a minimum of 48 hr prior to analysis. At the end of the incubation period, bacterial colonies are counted and reported as Colony Forming Units per gram of material (CFU/g). This test can only be conducted on bulk/ fluid samples, and cannot be used with swab samples unless the swab was collected from a defined surface area.
Laboratory code: HPC-Q
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