LIVER VEAL AGAR BASE, MODIFIED

Anaerobic bacteria live in an oxygen-free environment. Some of the anaerobic bacteria die in presence of oxygen while others fail to grow and multiply. Liver Veal Agar Base, Modified is a modification of the medium formulated by Spray, 1936. It is recommended by the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) for the growth of anaerobic organisms especially Clostridium botulinum. This may also be used in supplementation with 50% egg yolk. Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic, rod-shaped spore forming bacterium that produces a protein with characteristic neurotoxicity. Under certain conditions, these organisms may grow in foods producing highly dangerous botulinum toxin(s). Botulinum toxin has been classified into botulinum A, botulinum B upto G. Among this all except F and G are known to cause animal botulism. Different strains are classified through antigenic characterization using appropriate antitoxins. They are also differentiated into general groups on the basis of cultural, biochemical, and physiological characteristics.

for isolation of Clostridium botulinum in accordance with FDA BAM, 1998.