Table 1.

Culture media and methods

Media	Main enumerated microorganisms	Incubation time (day)
Anaerobic culturea
BL agar mediumb	Predominant anaerobes	3
GAM agar mediumc	Bifidobacterium spp.	1-2

^aCulture media were prepared and dispensed into Petri dishes on a clean bench. Dishes were stored in a bactron anaerobic chamber (Sheldon Manufacturing Inc., USA) containing 90% N₂, 5% CO₂ and 5% H₂ until plating. A sample of each dilution was plated on each medium in an anaerobic glove box. Plated dishes were incubated in a bactron anaerobic chamber filled with CO₂ gas. The presence of O₂ was monitored with steel wool soaked in acidified copper sulfate solution.

^bBL, Blood Liver (Nissui Pharm. Co. Ltd., Japan).

^cGAM, General Anaerobic Medium (Nissui Pharm. Co. Ltd., Japan).