Aerobic, facultatively anaerobic. Optimum temperature, 37° C. Pathogenicitj^: Lethal for mice 3 to 4 days after subcutaneous inoculation; rats and guinea pigs become sick; rabbits are immune. Comment: Henriksen (Acta Path, et Microbiol. Scand., 34, 1954, 249, 259, 266, 271, 276 and 291) believes this and the fol- lowing species to be distinguishable from Klebsiella pneumoniae because both K. ozaenae and K. rhinoscleromatis give the IMViC reactions found in the genus Esch- erichia whereas K. pneumoniae possesses the IMViC characters found in the genus Aerobacter. Source: Isolated from cases of ozena. Habitat: Frequently occurs in ozena and in non-stinking, pure atrophic rhinitis. 3. Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis Tre- visan, 1887. (Rhinoscleromabacillus, von Fritsch, Wien. med. Wochenschr., 32, 1882, 968; also see Cornil, Progres Medical, 11, 1883, 587; Trevisan, Rend. d. R. Istit. Lombardo, Ser. 2, 20, 1887, 95.) rhi.no.scle.ro'ma.tis. M.L. adj. rhino- scleromatis pertaining to rhinoscleroma. Original description supplemented by material taken from Edwards and Ewing (Identification of Enter obacteriaceae, Bur- gess Pub. Co., Minneapolis, 1955, 166 and 167). Rods, with rounded ends, about 0.8 by 1.6 to 2.4 microns, occurring singly, in pairs. and occasionally in short chains. Encapsu- lated. Non-motile. Gram-negative. Gelatin colonies: Circular, jellowish white, convex, entire. Gelatin stab: White, convex surface growth. No liquefaction. Agar colonies: White, translucent, smooth, glistening. Agar slant: Moist, white, translucent, spreading growth. Broth: Turbid; tough pellicle. Litmus milk: Unchanged. Potato: Yellowish white, slimj-, fre- quently showing gas production. Indole not produced. Hydrogen sulfide not produced. Gas not ordinarily produced from glucose ; acid produced from lactose slowly if at all (Lehmann and Neumann, Bakt. Diag., 4 Aufl., 2, 1907, 299). Acid from sucrose, salicin, inositol and adonitol. Acid may or may not be produced from dulcitol. d-Tar- trate and mucate not fermented. Acetylmethylcarbinol not produced. Methyl red test positive. Citrate not utilized as sole source of car- bon. Nitrites produced from nitrates. Urea not decomposed. Aerobic, facultativelj" anaerobic. Optimum temperature, 37° C. Comment: See comment under Klebsiella ozaenae. Source: Isolated from nasal secretions in rhinoscleroma. Genus IV. Paracolobactrum Borman et al., 1944-* (Paracolibacille, Widal and Nobecourt, Semaine M^d., 17, 1897, 285; Borman, Stuart and Wheeler, Jour. Bact., 48, 1944, 361.) Pa.ra.co.lo.bac'trum. Gr. prep, para (in composition) alongside of, like; M.L. noun Colobactrum a genus of bacteria; M.L. neut.n. Paracolobactrum that which resembles Colo- bactrum. Short rods. Gram-negative. Fermentation of lactose is consistently delaj'ed; occasionally lactose is not fermented. Glucose is fermented with the production of visible gas. Certain forms attack carbohydrates characteristically at 20° to 30° C. but not at 37° C; the produc- tion of acet3dmethylcarbinol may likewise be influenced by incubation temperature. Anti- genic relationships to other genera in the family are common, even with respect to major antigens. Found in surface water, soil, grains and the intestinal tracts of animals, including man.
- Prepared by Dr. E. K. Borman, Director, Bureau of Laboratories, State Department of
Health, Hartford, Connecticut, October, 1955.
