Emended description of Kingella denitrificans (Snell and Lapage 1976): correction of the maltose reaction

Abstract

Snell and Lapage proposed that the bacterium designated CDC group TM-1 be named Kingella denitrificans. Their description of the organism indicated that it produced acid from maltose which was in contrast with an earlier report from our laboratory that maltose was not utilized. In an attempt to explain the different findings in the two laboratories, the type strain and two additional strains of K. denitrificans were tested for acid production from maltose in phenol red broth, the rapid fermentation test, fermentation broth with Andrade's indicator, and oxidation-fermentation base. These media were tested without additional supplements and with supplements of horse serum (5% [vol/vol]) or rabbit serum (5% [vol/vol]). The results indicated that K. denitrificans does not produce acid from maltose. It was demonstrated that maltose in media containing serum is converted to glucose from which acid can be produced by K. denitrificans. The supplementation of maltose medium with horse serum by Snell and Lapage apparently had produced a false-positive maltose reaction. The description of K. denitrificans is emended to indicate that maltose is not utilized.