This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Other Versions of this Article: JCM.00360-07v1 45/9/2770    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sasaki, T. Articles by Hiramatsu, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sasaki, T. Articles by Hiramatsu, K.

Reclassification of Phenotypically Identified Staphylococcus intermedius Strains

Department of Infection Control Science, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan,¹ Department of Veterinary Hygiene, Veterinary School, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyounan, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan²

Received 15 February 2007/ Returned for modification 24 April 2007/ Accepted 19 June 2007

To reclassify phenotypically identified Staphylococcus intermedius strains, which might include true S. intermedius strains and novel species such as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus delphini, we analyzed molecular phylogenies and phenotypic characteristics of 117 S. intermedius group (SIG) strains tentatively identified as being S. intermedius by the Rapid ID32 Staph assay. From phylogenetic analyses of sodA and hsp60 sequences, the SIG strains were divided into three clusters, which belonged to S. pseudintermedius LMG 22219^T, S. intermedius ATCC 29663^T, and S. delphini LMG 22190^T. All the SIG strains from dogs, cats, and humans were identified as being S. pseudintermedius. The wild pigeon strains, except one, were identified as being S. intermedius, and strains from all domestic pigeons, one wild pigeon, horses, and a mink were identified as being S. delphini. In addition, a phylogenetic analysis of nuc genes revealed that S. delphini strains were divided into two clusters: one was the cluster (S. delphini group A) that belonged to S. delphini LMG 22190^T, and the other was the cluster (S. delphini group B) that was more related to S. pseudintermedius LMG 22219^T than S. delphini LMG 22190^T. The DNA-DNA hybridization results showed that S. delphini group B strains were distinguished from S. delphini group A, S. intermedius, and S. pseudintermedius strains. S. intermedius is distinguishable from S. pseudintermedius or S. delphini by positive arginine dihydrolase and acid production from ß-gentiobiose and D-mannitol. However, phenotypical characteristics to differentiate S. delphini group A, S. delphini group B, and S. pseudintermedius were not found. In conclusion, SIG strains were reclassified into four clusters with three established and one probably novel species.

Published ahead of print on 27 June 2007.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Schwarz, S., Kadlec, K., Strommenger, B. (2008). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius detected in the BfT-GermVet monitoring programme 2004-2006 in Germany. J Antimicrob Chemother 61: 282-285 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Bannoehr, J., Ben Zakour, N. L., Waller, A. S., Guardabassi, L., Thoday, K. L., van den Broek, A. H. M., Fitzgerald, J. R. (2007). Population Genetic Structure of the Staphylococcus intermedius Group: Insights into agr Diversification and the Emergence of Methicillin-Resistant Strains. J. Bacteriol. 189: 8685-8692 [Abstract] [Full Text]