Abstract: A model of the adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to chick skins is described.The skins which were separated from the dorsal part of the embryo were cut up into pieces about 20mm² and placed in petri-dishes for adherence studies.Adherence was quantification by direct count of the number of bacteria attached to a fixed surface area as viewed by scanning electron microscopy.Optimal condition for study were 1 h of incubation with an inoculum of 10⁷-10⁸CFU/ml.Under this condition,the slime strains adhered to the skins 10 fold better than the nonslime strains.Heat and formalin treated P.aeruginosa strains did not adhere to the skins,and antiserum against P.aerugiosa can inhibit adherence.Bacteria species such as E.coli,Klebsiella pneu-moniae,and Proteus mirabilis adhered poorly to the skins in this system. This model should be useful in studying the reaction of bacteria with the skins of burn patients.

Key words: adherence model, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, scanning electron microscopy