The Bacteriophagic Relationships Between B. Coli,S. Fecalis and S. Lacticus.

Abstract

The systematic relationships existing between S. fecalis and recognized streptococci of the hemolytic and viridans group, or with acid-forming organisms common to the intestinal tract, such as B. coli, S. lacticus (B. acidi lactici), M. ovalis or the “Enterococcus” of Thiercelin and others, have long been a subject of controversy. Andrews and Horder 1 attempted to establish the fecal streptococcus as one of their six streptococcus types. Holman 2 placed it among his various types of streptococcus. Brown, 3 in his comprehensive review of the blood-reactions of the streptococci, states: “Furthermore, strains of S. fecalis are green producers and therefore belong to the S. viridans group as originally proposed by Schottmüller.” Gordon 4 established, on a basis of serological tests, three types—S. pyogenes (hemolytic), S. salivarius (viridans), and S. fecalis (“Enterococcus”). These he also distinguished on the basis of hemolysis, raffinose-fermentation and mannite-fermentation. He also regarded these groups as serologically distinct. Dible, 5 largely on the basis of fermentation tests, attempted to show that there existed an identity between S. fecalis and the Enterococcus of Thiercelin, often mentioned by French writers. Kendall, 6 in 1924, placed S. fecalis with the greening and hemolytic streptococci in tabular form, but avoided in the text a discussion of its actual position. He mentioned M. ovalis as probably identical with the Enterococcus but did not relate it to S. fecalis. Ayers and Johnston 7 stated that S. fecalis was identical with, or at least similar to, S. lacticus. They used as criteria (1) heat-resistance, (2) morphology (oval form), (3) cell-grouping (short chain) and (4) mannite-fermentation. Thus we have some diversity of view on the position of S. fecalis.