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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1969 April; 17(4): 596-602
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Fecal Microflora in Healthy Persons in a Preindustrial Region

Division of Microbiology, Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), Guatemala, Central America

ABSTRACT

Procedures for quantitating the fecal microflora of man were described. Special attention was given to criteria for characterizing the culturable aerobic, Micro-aerophilic, and anaerobic bacteria. Three groups of healthy persons were studied: wholly breast—fed infants (2 to 4 month-olds), weanlings (1 to 2 year-olds), and adults. In breast-fed children, bifidobacteria predominate and outnumber by one or several logs all other culturable bacteria. The fecal flora of wholly breast-fed infants is "simpler" and more numerous [10¹¹ to 10¹² per g (wet weight) of feces than that of the adult 10² to 10¹¹ per g]. In the adult, gram-negative anaerobic bacilli (bacteroides) outnumber all other groups by a factor of 1 log or more. Weanlings receiving an adult-type diet, but still breast-fed, showed a flora intermediate between that of the wholly breast-fed infant and that of the adult, but more similar to the latter. Anaerobes always constitute the predominant component of the culturable flora of children and adults and are always found in large numbers under conditions of health. The aerobes are significantly less numerous, and vary widely in their number and in the frequency with which they appear in feces.

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• Ojofeitimi, E.O., Elegbe, I.A. (1982). The Effect of Early Initiation of Colostrum Feeding on Proliferation of Intestinal Bacteria in Neonates. CLIN PEDIATR 21: 39-42 [Abstract]