- Volume 15, Issue 1, 1965

The proposed neotype strain of Vibrio cholerae Pacini, National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) 8021, is compared with 258 isolates of nonhaemolytic V. cholerae to explore the parameters of the species. The distribution of 51 characteristics among these strains is expressed quantitatively. A few V. cholerae strains which (A) ferment arabinose, (B) fail to ferment sucrose, and (C) do not produce indole were found to possess Gardner and Venkatraman heat-stable O Group I antigen.

The significance of the term “individual” as applied to the definition of the taxon “species” is reviewed. For clarity in classification and nomenclature in bacteriology it is urged that (1) for each genus there should be definite designation of a type species, (2) for each species there should be recognition either of a type strain or of a neotype strain. These should be accessible in true type culture collections for distribution and use. For each type or neotype strain there should be available a reasonably complete description which may be emended as new techniques of differentiation are developed and applied. The concept of type and neotype in many cases should be carried to the level of subspecies and not infrequently to infrasubspecific forms, including strains useful in diagnosis in chemical studies, serotypes, variants and strains useful in industry.

The authors give a full description of a new species and genus to be included in the family Enterobacteriaceae. The generic name Edwardsiella (Ewing and McWhorter) and the species name Edwardsiella tarda are suggested for use in connection with the bacteria described.

A proposal for rejection of the bacterial generic name Polymonas Lieske 1928.

The term “Asakusa group” is used as the designation for organisms in the family Enterobacteriaceae which are mannitol negative, hydrogen sulfide positive, and differ from all 10 “groups” listed by the International Subcommittee on Taxonomy of the Enterobacteriaceae. Twenty-eight characters are listed as useful in distinguishing members of the Asakusa group from related groups. Of 256 isolates studied, all but 7 were isolated from snakes, 5 from man, and 2 from seals. No genera or species were named.

The authors designate as type cultures, strains of Bacillus badius Batchelor, B. coagulans Hammer, B. firmus Werner, B. laterosporus Laubach, B. lentus Gibson, B. macerans Schardinger, B. pantothenticus proom and Knight, B. pumilus Gottheil, B. sphaericus Neide, B. stearothermophilus Donk and B. subtilis Cohn. The proposed neotype strains are B. alvei Cheshire and Cheyne, B. anthracis Cohn, B. brevis Migula, B. cereus Frankland and Frankland, B. circulans Jordan, B. licheniformis (Weigmann) Chester, B. megaterium De Bary, B. pasteurii (Miquel) Migula and B. polymyxa (Prazmowski) Migula.

Fifty-seven characteristics of the proposed neotype strains of Vibrio cholerae Pacini 1854 and Vibrio eltor Pribram 1933 are compared. These organisms are so similar that they should be included in the same species under the name which has priority, Vibrio cholerae. Pribram (1933) appears to have been the first to publish validly the name V. eltor.