Eight sick animals had the same symptoms. Blood tests showed that they were infected with the same type of bacterium.
Which of the following would be the best course of action to determine if this particular type of bacterium is the cause of the symptoms?
- Treat all eight animals with the antibiotic known to kill this type of bacterium. Check if they recover.
- Find other animals with the same symptoms. Attempt to isolate the same type of bacterium from their blood.
- Inject blood from animals with the symptoms into suitable host individuals. Check if they develop the same symptoms.
- Use bacteria from the blood of affected animals to inoculate healthy animals. If these healthy animals develop the symptoms, attempt to isolate the same bacterium from their blood.