Yersinia mollaretii sp. nov. and Yersinia bercovieri sp. nov., Formerly Called Yersinia enterocolitica Biogroups 3A and 3B

Abstract

Yersinia enterocolitica biogroups 3A and 3B are biochemically, serologically, and ecologically different from biogroup 3 and other Y. enterocolitica biogroups. Both biogroup 3A and biogroup 3B can be characterized by their negative Voges-Proskauer reactions and positive reactions in tests for pyrazinamidase, acid production from mucate, proline peptidase, and acid production from d-xylose. Biogroup 3A ferments l-sorbose but not l-fucose; biogroup 3B has the opposite fermentation pattern. Deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness studies (hydroxyapatite method) indicated that biogroups 3A and 3B are two new species that are about 55% interrelated and 25 to 46% related to other Yersinia species (except Yersinia ruckeri [20 to 22%]). The names Yersinia mollaretii sp. nov. and Yersinia bercovieri sp. nov. are proposed for biogroups 3A and 3B, respectively.