Abstract
In fermentation of dairy products, bifidobacteria is used in conjunction with other lactic acid bacteria, such as L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus, rendering the enumeration of bifidobacteria difficult. In order to develop optimum conditions for selective enumeration of bifidobacteria, we examined MIC of several antibiotics against various bifidobacteria and other lactic acid bacteria. The growth of L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus and S. thermophilus were inhibited by lithium chloride at the concentration of less than 4 mg/ml, whereas growth inhibition of bifidobacteria occurred at concentrations over 6-10 mg/ml. Tetracycline and chloramphenicol were also found to selectively inhibit growth of other lactic acid bacteria at the concentration of 1-3 $\mu$g/ml. Addition of 6 mg/ml lithium chloride, 1 $\mu$g/ml, tetracycline or 3 $\mu$g/ml chloramphenicol to medium was found to be optimal for selective enumeration of bifidobacteria. By using these three inhibitory chemicals in the TPY medium, higher number of bifidobacteria were selectively isolated than with NPNL agar and LP agar.