Isolation of Sphaerophorus necrophorus from Bovine Hepatic Abscesses in British Columbia

The purpose of this study was to determine the predominant microflora in hepatic abscesses of cattle slaughtered in British Columbia.

Samples of approximately 400 livers were examined by direct smear and culture. Sphaerophorus necrophorus was present in 97% of the 431 abscesses and in 67% it was present in pure culture. In 30% it was present in combination with other organisms such as coryne-bacterium and streptococcus.