Porcine haemophili and actinobacilli: characterization by means of API test strips and possible taxonomic implications

Thirty Haemophilus strains and six Actinobacillus strains, all of porcine origin, were examined for their biochemical reactivity on API 20E and API ZYM test strips using dense cell suspensions (supplemented with NAD as appropriate) as strip inocula. When combined with a test for V-factor dependency, the use of both strips allowed adequate differentiation of closely related organisms. Numerical taxonomic analysis of the data demonstrated that the majority of the haemophili and actinobacilli studied could be placed in one of four major clusters; these clusters contained, respectively, the H. pleuropneumoniae – A. pleuropneumoniae strains, the H. parasuis strains, strains belonging to Haemophilus taxon "minor group," and strains belonging to an unusual group of mannitol-positive, urease-negative haemophili. A representative of Haemophilus species taxon C and an unusual Actinobacillus isolate appeared to be comparatively unrelated to organisms in the four major clusters. Although it may, on occasion, be difficult to place an unusual isolate in any one particular group, owing to the uncertain taxonomy of some of these organisms, it is concluded that API test strips can serve as useful tools for the characterization and differentiation of porcine haemophili and actinobacilli.