BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE RED DISCOLORATION OF SALTED HIDES

Abstract

A study was made of organisms concerned with the red discoloration of salted hides, also termed "red heat", which defect may occasion loss in the leather industry through spotting and weakening of the fibre. Red halophilic sarcinae were isolated from Argentine hide. From Canadian hides showing red discoloration, two species of pleomorphic rods were isolated as active agents. One of these, occurring on salted cowhides, was found to be similar to Serratia salinaria (Harrison and Kennedy) Bergey et al., a source of reddening of cured codfish in eastern Canada. The other organism causing discoloration, isolated from buffalo hide, was regarded as a new species and designated Serratia cutirubra n.sp. Both of these halophilic organisms, owing to their proteolytic action, are considered capable of greater damage to hides than the red sarcinal types which are non-liquefying, and which may also be present on Canadian hides. Non-chromogenic halophilic bacteria were also isolated from discolored hides. These develop at a lower salt concentration range than the red organisms and are probably less active in causing injury to fibre in well salted hides.