Micrococcus indolicus. Some biochemical properties, and the demonstration of sex antigenically different types
Sorensen, G.H.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 14(2): 301-326
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-605X PMID: 4199484 Document Number: 69573
A total of 274 strains of M. indolicus, 211 of which had been isolated from cases of summer mastitis, 13 from other cases of mastitis in cattle, 15 from other suppurative lesions in cattle, 13 from insects, 13 from the vagina and interdigital skin of clinically healthy cows, and 9 from various suppurative lesions in swine, were studied and compared with four strains of anaerobic cocci of human origin, presumably representing at least three species closely related to M. indolicus: Staph. asaccharolyticus Distaso, Staph. aerogenes Schotmuller, and Staph. anaerobius Jungano. The growth characteristics of M. indolicus are described, and the most important biochemical criteria for its identification stated briefly. By double diffusion-in-gel analysis 217 strains of M. indolicus could be divided into six antigenic types. By the CF technique no difference could be demonstrated between the six types. Strains isolated from healthy cattle or from insects all belonged to antigenic types commonly found in summer mastitis. Three of nine porcine strains belonged to a type (F) hitherto not found in cattle. The four human strains of anaerobic cocci showed no antigenic relation to M. indolicus and differed from it in growth characteristics and in biochemical properties. It is concluded that, as suggested by Christiansen, M. indolicus should be classified as a separate species and not as a variant of Staph. asaccharolyticus..