PROPOSAL FOR DESIGNATION OF F38-TYPE CAPRINE MYCOPLASMAS AS MYCOPLASMA-CAPRICOLUM SUBSP CAPRIPNEUMONIAE SUBSP-NOV AND CONSEQUENT OBLIGATORYRELEGATION OF STRAINS CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED AS MYCOPLASMA-CAPRICOLUM (TULLY, BARILE, EDWARD, THEODORE, AND ERNO 1974) TO AN ADDITIONAL NEW SUBSPECIES, MYCOPLASMA-CAPRICOLUM SUBSP-CAPRICOLUM SUBSP-NOV

A subspecies relationship with the existing species Mycoplasma caprico lum is appropriate for the F38 group of mycoplasmas, the causative age nt of classical contagious caprine pleuropneumonia. We believe that th is classification is justified on the basis of the close DNA-DNA relat ionship recently reported for isolates belonging to the two groups and the other known serological and biological similarities and differenc es of these organisms. Strain F38T (T = type strain) and taxonomically indistinguishable strains are therefore proposed as members of a new subspecies of M. capricolum, M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae. Str ain F38 (= NCTC 10192) is the type strain of M. capricolum subsp. capr ipneumoniae subsp. nov. As a consequence of this subdivision of the sp ecies M. capricolum, strains previously classified as M. capricolum ar e now necessarily relegated to subspecies status, as M. capricolum sub sp. capricolum subsp. nov. Strain California kid (= ATCC 27343 = NCTC 10154) is the type strain of M. capricolum, as well as of M. capricolu m subsp. capricolum. A taxonomic description of M. capricolum subsp. c apripneumoniae and a brief amended description of M. capricolum subsp. capricolum are presented.