On the growth of Brucella species in presence of erythritol in defined and undefined media and amniotic fluid of human, cow and sheep.

Different concentrations of erythritol (25-1000 microng/ml) in defined medium were shown to enhance the growth of 75.00 to 91.66 per cent of Brucella abortus and 69.23 to 100.00 per cent of Brucella melitensis strains studied. Compared to these figures only 13.04 to 60.86% (in tryptose broth), and 41.40 to 62.50% (in glycerol dextrose broth), of Brucella abortus strains, 25.00 to 83.30 per cent (in tryptose broth) and 83.30 to 100.00 per cent (in glycerol dextrose broth) of Brucella melitensis strains showed increased growth over the control. 82.20 per cent of amniotic fluid samples from humans showed anti-brucella activity with lytic zones varying from 7-19 mm. Amniotic fluid from cows and sheep had no antibrucella activity.