I. Skaar et al., STREPTOCOCCUS PHOCAE SP-NOV, A NEW SPECIES ISOLATED FROM CLINICAL SPECIMENS FROM SEALS, International journal of systematic bacteriology, 44(4), 1994, pp. 646-650
A new beta-hemolytic streptococcal species, Streptococcus phocae, was
isolated from organ specimens obtained hom seals. This taxon is descri
bed on the basis of the results of a study of 22 strains. S. phocae wa
s serologically somewhat heterogeneous (group antigen -/F/C). Strains
belonging to this species exhibited high levels of DNA-DNA homology to
each other, as determined by DNA-DNA hybridization, but low levels of
DNA-DNA homology to the type strains of other streptococcal species.
A simple scheme for the differentiation of S. phocae from other beta-h
emolytic streptococci is presented. Strain 8399 H1 (= NCTC 12719) is t
he type strain of S. phocae.