Streptococcus cecorum, a New Species Isolated from Chickens

Abstract

Carboxyphilic strains which had characteristics commonly attributed to the group D streptococci and especially to Streptococcus bovis were isolated from the ceca of chickens. However, these strains differed from S. bovis in being positive for ribose, melezitose, β-glucuronidase, and alkaline phosphatase, and negative for group D reactions and growth enhancement by CO2. These differences were confirmed by deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization tests. The strains form a new species, for which the name Streptococcus cecorum is proposed. Strain A60 (=NCDO 2674) is the type strain of this species.