Fecal Flora of Thai Residents in Japan; Comparison between Vegetarians and an Omnivore

The fecal bacterial flora of three healthy Thai residents in Japan were determined . Two were short-term or long-term vegetarians and one was a mixed-diet omnivore . The total bacterial counts of all these subjects were significantly lower than those of the average Japanese. The total counts and the numbers of anaerobic bacteria in the vegetarians were constant, whereas a fluctuation between the omnivore's two samplings was observed, accompanied with a decrease in bacteroidaceae , eubacteria, bifidobacteria, enterococci, and veillonellae, and an increase in Clostridium perfringens , lactobacilli, and staphylococci.