esculin, amygdalin, arabinose, cellobiose, dextrin, fructose, galactose, glycogen, inulin, lactose, glucose, maltose, mannose, raffinose, rhamnose, salacin, starch, sucrose and xylose. No acid or gas from glycerol, mannitol, melezitose, sorbitol or trehalose (Eggerth and Gagnon). Nitrites not produced from nitrates (Eggerth and Gagnon) . Peptone: No gas. Anaerobic. Optimum temperature, 37° C. Non-pathogenic for white mice or rabbits. Distinctive characters: Encapsulated. Source: Isolated from human feces by Distaso and by Eggerth and Gagnon (8 strains). Habitat: Probably the intestinal canals of mammals. 29. Bacteroides serpens (Veillon and Zuber, 1898) Hauduroy et al., 1937. {Bacillus serpens Veillon and Zuber, Arch. Med. Exp. et Anat. Path., 10, 1898, 870; Hauduroy et al.. Diet. d. Bact. Path., 1937, 74; Zuherella serpens Prevot, Ann. Inst. Past., 60, 1938, 293 (type species of genus Zuherella Prevot, i6zd.,290).) ser'pens. L. part. adj. serpens creeping. Thick rods, with rounded ends, occurring singly, in pairs or in short chains. Motile. Gram-negative. Gelatin: Slow liquefaction, with gas. Agar colonies: Punctiform. Deep agar colonies: Small colonies in 48 hours, ray -like growth later. Gas produced. Broth: Turbid, then flocculent growth; some gas with foul odor. Litmus milk: Acidified and coagulated in six days with no digestion. Coagulated egg white and serum not liquefied. Hydrogen sulfide not produced. Acid from fructose, galactose, maltose and lactose. Anaerobic. Optimum temperature, 37° C. Experimental pathogenicity: Some strains produce abscesses in rabbits, guinea pigs and mice. Source and habitat: Acute appendicitis, mastoiditis, pulmonary gangrene, bile tract of dog and sea water. 30. Bacteroides variegatus (Distaso, 1912) Castellani and Chalmers, 1919. {Bacil- lus variegatus Distaso, Cent. f. Bakt., I Abt., Orig., 62, 1912, 445; Castellani and Chalmers, Man. Trop. Med., 3rd ed., 1919, 960; Zuherella variegata Prevot, Ann. Inst. Past., 60, 1938,293.) va.rie.ga'tus. L. part. adj. variegatus variegated. Rods occurring singly and in chains. Motile by means of peritrichous fiagella. Gram-negative. Gelatin stab: No liquefaction. Glucose agar colonies: Small, translucent, entire. No gas produced. Broth: Turbid; no gas. Litmus milk: Acid, coagulated. Coagulated egg white: Not digested. Indole is produced. Acid but no gas from glucose or lactose. Anaerobic. Optimum temperature, 37° C. Source: Isolated from the intestines of man. Habitat: Found in the intestinal tract of man. Genus II. Fusobacterium Knorr, 1922* (Knorr, Cent. f. Bakt., I Abt., Orig., 87, 1922, 536; Fusocillus Prevot, Ann. Inst. Past., 60, 1938, 300.) Fu.so.bac.te'ri.um. L. noun fusus a spindle; Gr. dim. noun hacterium a small rod; M.L. noun Fusobacterium a spindle rodlet. Straight or curved rods, usually with tapering ends, occurring singly, in pairs and some- times in short chains; filaments are common. Motile {Fusocillus) and non-motile species occur; the motile species may show oscillation of both ends of the rod or movements of
- Revised by Dr. Heiner Hoffman, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York
City, New York, May, 1955.
