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Bacteriology microbiologists perform a variety of bacteriological procedures and work alongside pathologists in the diagnosis of disease of submitted animals and tissues and to support research testing. Tests frequently performed include aerobic and anaerobic culture, Salmonella and Listeria enrichment, NPIP approved Salmonella culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, Mycoplasma and Campylobacter culture. The bacteriology section tests for significant select agent organisms endemic to South Dakota including Bacillus anthracis, Franciscella tularensis and Yersinia pestis. 

General Guidelines

Collect samples to be submitted for bacteriological testing as soon and as aseptically as possible. Include a representative portion of the tissues and any lesions that may be present. Do not use plastic gloves or sleeves. Do not chemically treat containers for shipping specimens. 

Package gastrointestinal tissues, including intestines and stomach, separately from all other tissues to prevent contamination. This prevents contamination by leakage of the intestinal contents. It is best to collect specimens of other organs for bacterial culture before opening the gastrointestinal tract. For culturing, submit a 4-6" section and don't open the intestine.

Fluids from body cavities, heart sac, joints, etc., are best collected with a sterile swab with transport media and submitted in a sealed, sterile tube or aspirated into a sterile disposable syringe. Any swabs submitted should be clearly labeled with the location from where the swab was taken and any applicable animal identification

Select Agent Submission Guide

Minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoints and interpretive categories are established per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Refer to CLSI VET01S document for further guidance. A “no interpretation (NI)" result indicates that clinical breakpoints have not been established for that animal species/bacterial species/tissue type. 

For any additional questions contact the SDSU bacteriology section at 605-688-5689.