Identifier

etd-0410103-122444

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Veterinary Medical Sciences - Pathobiological Sciences

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis is a bacterium that causes severe disease mainly in ruminants, but can affect any mammal, including humans. A popular method for the detection of this organism is susceptibility of the bacterial isolate to g bacteriophage. However, to date no study on the resistance of a wide variety of B. anthracis isolates has been conducted. The following study examines the rate of resistance of a wide range of B. anthracis isolates to g phage as well as another phage specific for B. anthracis known as Cherry phage. We also compared susceptibility to phage with another detection method, susceptibility to penicillin, to determine any association between the two. The origin of the resistant isolates was examined to determine associations between resistance and isolate origin. Finally, the gross structure and resistant rates of the two phages were compared to determine any relation between the two viruses. We found that B. anthracis showed 20% resistance to g phage, which we propose is too high to continue its use as a reliable diagnostic tool. No association was found between resistance to penicillin and resistance to phage. No association was found between isolate origin and resistance. No conclusions could be drawn as to the relationship between the two phages.

Date

2003

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Martin Hugh-Jones

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.1100

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