Chromobacterium violaceum infection in a pig

Abstract

A Chromobacterium was isolated on 10% sheep's blood agar and McConkey agar from abscesses in the lung, liver and mammary region and also from the swollen mediastinal lymph nodes of a pig. This organism grew at 25 or 37 deg. C. but not at 4 deg. C. It was haemolytic and produced a violet pigment on blood agar. Gelatin and Loefflers media were liquefied.In liquid media a pale violet pellicle was formed. The organism was pathogenic for mice and mildly pathogenic for guinea pigs. Three other strains biochemically and morphologically similar to the pig strain and with similar pathogenicity for guinea pigs and mice were recovered from muddy water. The nomenclature of this species is discussed. Our strains appear to fit most closely with Chr. violaceum var. manilae.