Flavobacterium spiritivorum, a New Species Isolated from Human Clinical Specimens

A new species, Flavobacterium spiritivorum, is proposed. Each of the 13 strains placed in the new species was examined for 129 characteristics, including 58 enzyme reactions (API ZYM system). These bacteria were rod shaped, aerobic, gram negative, and nonmotile, and oxidized glucose in oxidation-fermentation medium. The mean guanine-plus-cytosine content of the deoxyribonucleic acids of six selected strains was 41.4 ± 0.4 mol%. A distinguishing feature of the new species is its ability to produce acid from various carbohydrates and alcohols. In particular, the ability of F. spiritivorum strains to produce acid from ethanol and mannitol distinguishes them from all other Flavobacterium species. Eleven strains of the new species were isolated from human clinical specimens, of which blood and urine were common sources. The type strain is E7288 (= NCTC 11386).