Characteristics of enterococci and staphylococci isolated from the crop and caecum of Japanese quails exposed to microgravity conditions.

Ten selected strains of enterococci and staphylococci were isolated from the crop and caecum of Japanese quails exposed to microgravity conditions. Isolates were allotted to the species Enterococcus gallinarum, Ent. avium, Ent. faecium, Staphylococcus gallinarum and Staph. aureus. Isolated strains were facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, Gram-positive cocci, occurring in pairs, short chains or irregular clusters. Isolates utilized most of the soluble sugars tested and produced bacteriocin-like substances. Enterococci and staphylococci were resistant to monensin (50 mg/l) and sensitive to tylosin and virginiamycin (10 mg/l).