EMENDED DESCRIPTION OF CAMPYLOBACTER-SPUTORUM AND REVISION OF ITS INFRASUBSPECIFIC (BIOVAR) DIVISIONS, INCLUDING CAMPYLOBACTER-SPUTORUM BIOVAR PARAUREOLYTICUS, A UREASE-PRODUCING VARIANT FROM CATTLE AND HUMANS

A polyphasic taxonomic study of 15 bovine and human strains assigned t o the catalase-negative, urease-positive campylobacter (CNUPC) group i dentified these bacteria as a novel, ureolytic biovar of Campylobacter sputorum for which we propose the name C. sputorum bv. paraureolyticu s: suitable reference strains are LMG 11764 (human isolate) and LMG 17 590 (= CCUG 37579, bovine isolate), The present study confirmed previo us findings showing that the salient biochemical tests used to differe ntiate C. sputorum by. sputorum from C. sputorum by. bubulus are not r eproducible; and that the absolute validity of source-specific biovars of the species is questionable, A correlation between the results of numerical analysis of protein profiles and the reaction of strains in certain enzyme tests was, however, noted, Therefore, it is proposed th at the infrasubspecific (biovar) divisions of C. sputorum should be re vised to include by. sputorum for catalase-negative strains; by. fecal is for catalase-positive strains; and by. paraureolyticus for urease-p ositive strains. Strains classified previously as by. bubulus should b e reclassified as by. sputorum. The species description of C. sputorum is revised accordingly.