Modified techniques for the isolation of Dermatophilus spp. from infected material.

Two improved techniques are described for the isolation of Dermatophilus spp. The first is suitable for samples of scab from lesions of the disease in animals, except for sheep affected with lumpy wool. The second is for the isolation of the organism from samples of lumpy wool in sheep. Both techniques are simple, rapid and reliable and are based on releasing the organism by pulverizing the scab and then by suppressing contaminants by including polymixin B sulphate in the medium. Excellent results are obtained with or without pre-incubation exposure to CO2.