Characterization and Identification of Enterococcus Species Isolated from the Intestines of Animals

Tests useful for the identification of Enterococcus strains were applied to a collection of isolates from animal intestines and to reference strains, all of which were capable of growth on 40% bile and in 6.5% NaCI. Most strains could be identified as known species, and their characteristics corresponded, with a few exceptions of minor importance, with those described for Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus durans, Enterococcus mundtii, Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus avium, and Enterococcus casseliflavus. However, some diagnostically important carbohydrate reactions of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium strains differed from those given in the species descriptions and in recent reports. Production of acid from d-raffinose andd-xylose by E. faecium varied with the host species from which the strains were isolated. E. durans and E. gallinarum were isolated only from poultry, whereas E. avium was found only in mammals.