Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Atypical Lactococcus garvieae Strains Isolated from Water Buffalos with Subclinical Mastitis and Confirmation of L. garvieae as a Senior Subjective Synonym of Enterococcus seriolicida

During a survey of bacterial agents that cause subclinical mastitis in water buffalos, we isolated several strains of gram-positive cocci that appeared to be enterococci except that they grew very slowly at 45 degrees C and grew slowly in broth containing 6.5% NaCl. On the basis of the results of conventional physiologic tests, these strains were identified as Enterococcus durans. However, none of the strains reacted with the AccuProbe Enterococcus genetic probe. The whole-cell protein profiles of these organisms were compared with the profiles of Enterococcus and Lactococcus reference strains. apart from minor quantitative differences, the mastitis isolates had indistinguishable protein profiles that were similar to the profiles of the Lactococcus garvieae and Enterococcus seriolicida type strains. The results of DNA relatedness studies performed by using the hydroxyapatite method at 55 and 70 degrees C indicated that all of the mastitis isolates were related to the type strain of L. garvieae at the species level, despite the fact that they exhibited several uncommon phenotypic characteristics (growth at 45 degrees C, growth in broth containing 6.5% NaCl, and failure to produce acid from mannitol and sucrose). The high levels of DNA relatedness between strains of L. garvieae is a senior synonym of E. seriolicida, L. garvieae should be retained as the species name and strain ATCC 43921 should remain the type strain of this species.