Acetate Utilization Test - Principle, Procedure, Uses and Interpretation

Acetate utilization test is employed in the qualitative procedures to differentiate species of Shigella from Escherichia coli and non-fermentative gram negative bacteria.

Objective

To differentiate organisms based on ability to use acetate as the sole source of carbon.

Uses

Generally used to differentiate Shigella spp. from Escherichia coli.

Principle

This test is used to differentiate an organism capable of using acetate as the sole source of carbon. Organisms capable of using sodium acetate grow on the medium, resulting in an alkaline pH, turning the indicator from green to blue.

Organic acids have been used widely as an aid in the differentiation of Enterobacteriaceae, usually in formulae that contained organic nitrogen sources. Most bacteria, however, can use citrate and acetate in the presence of organic nitrogen. The differentiation of groups is based on the ability or failure of the test culture to utilize acetate in a medium devoid of trace organic nitrogen but sodium acetate as the sole source of carbon. Most Shigella and Proteus species are unable to utilize acetate and therefore fail to grow. Majority of Escherichia coli and closely related organisms grow well within 24-48.

Acetate utilization is indicated by formation of blue color, which is due to the utilization of sodium acetate and subsequent formation of an alkaline reaction detected by the presence of bromothymol blue indicator.

Media Used

Chemically defined medium with sodium acetate as sole carbon source (Sodium acetate agar)

NaC2H3O2 (2 g); MgSO4 (0.1 g); NaCl (5 g); NH4H2PO4 (1 g); agar (20 g); bromthymol blue indicator (0.8 g), per 1000 mL, pH 6.7.

Method

Emulsify a portion of the colony from a pure, 18-24 hour culture in 1.0ml of sterile physiological saline (0.85%).
With a straight inoculating needle, inoculate acetate slant lightly from an 18- to 24-hour culture. Do not inoculate from a broth culture but rather from a plate.
Incubate at 35°-37°C for up to 7 days.

Expected Results

Positive: Medium becomes alkalinized (blue) as a result of the growth and use of acetate.
Negative: No growth or growth with no indicator change to blue.

Limitations

Some strains of E. coli may use acetate at a very slow rate or not at all, resulting in a false negative reaction in the identification process.
Certain strains of Shigella flexneri are capable of utilizing acetate. 7.7% of Shigella flexneri 4a, mannitol +, and 86% of Shigella flexneri 4a, mannitol -, are acetate-positive.
Heavy inoculums may result in a false positive result.

References

Tille, P. M., & Forbes, B. A. (2014). Bailey & Scott’s diagnostic microbiology (Thirteenth edition.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.
himedialabs.com/TD/M339.pdf
www.microbiologyresearch.org/docserver/fulltext/micro/41/1/mic-41-1-23.pdf?expires=1541473081&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=F48E398043114954ADA159BF16275540
https://www.bd.com/europe/regulatory/Assets/IFU/Difco_BBL/274210.pdf

Acetate Utilization Test – Principle, Procedure, Uses and Interpretation