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Abstract
Forty strains of enteric bacilli were studied in detail. Biochemically the organisms form a homogeneous group belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, but they do not fit into any of the recognised groups. The following pattern of biochemical reactions was recorded. The strains produced indole, utilised citrate and malonate, and decarboxylated ornithine. They failed to produce hydrogen sulphide on TS1, to deaminate phenylalanine or to decarboxylate lysine. The Voges-Proskauer reaction was negative. Acid was produced from adonitol, arabinose, maltose, mannitol, rhamnose and sorbitol in 2 days. Lactose fermentation was delayed. Acid was not produced from raffinose. Preliminary serological studies showed no cross-reactions between these strains and other members of the Enterobacteriaceae. It is felt that this group should be assigned to a new species in the genus Citrobacter.
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