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Identification of catalase-producingCampylobacter species based on biochemical characteristics and on cellular fatty acid composition

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Abstract

A total of 50 catalase-positive campylobacters from human and animal sources were studied. The nomenclatural type strains ofCampylobacter coli, C. jejuni, C. fetus, andC. fetus subsp.venerealis, a typical strain of the nalidixic acid-resistant thermophilic group, and various clinical isolates were characterized by bacteriological tests and by gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of their cellular fatty acids. The tests most useful in the differentiation of the various catalase-positive species were growth at 25 and 42°C, H2S production, tolerance to nalidixic acid and to 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, and hippurate hydrolysis. The latter test was the only reliable means to differentiate betweenC. coli andC. jejuni. Differences between.C. fetus andC. jejuni/coli were confirmed by cellular fatty acid compositions. The bacteriological results indicated thatC. fetus andC. jejuni were distinct species, although within the thermophilic campylobacters there were several related taxa that included bothC. coli andC. jejuni strains with typicalC. coli and some thermophilic strains ofC. fetus subsp.fetus at the extremes.

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  1. Central Public Health Laboratory, National Collection of Type Cultures, Colindale Avenue, NW9 5HT, London, England

    Susan Leaper & Robert J. Owen

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  1. Susan Leaper
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  2. Robert J. Owen
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Leaper, S., Owen, R.J. Identification of catalase-producingCampylobacter species based on biochemical characteristics and on cellular fatty acid composition. Current Microbiology 6, 31–35 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01566723

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