[Distribution of highly thermophilic, nonsporulating bacteria in the hot springs of Tadzhikistan].

Extreme-thermophilic non-sporeforming bacteria belonging to the Thermus genus are widely distributed in hot springs (40-90 degrees C) of Tadzhikistan. Their content was highest (1.8-10(4)--6.0-10(4) cells per gram of ooze) in springs with the temperature of water of 50-60 degrees C, and decreased (to 8.0-10(2)--4.0-10(3) cells per gram of ooze) in springs with the same temperature of water but with a low content of ooze. The number of the cells was even less (5.0-10(2)--4.0-10(3) per gram of ooze) in the surface layers of heated soil, especially at a depth of 2 cm. The lowest number of the cells (0.5-4.0 cells per 1 ml) was found in water at the surface of soil, with the temperature of 96, 93, and 65 degrees C.