[Identification of Brucella of human origin, isolated in France]

28 strains of human origin, isolated in France, have been examined by the methods recommended by the International Committee on Nomenclature, Sub-Committee on Taxonomy of the genus Brucella including oxidative metabolism and phage typing. Their characteristics correspond to those which allow to define B. melitensis (22 strains) and B. abortus (6 strains). The B. melitensis strains are divided as follows: 11 belong to biotype 1, 6 to biotype 2 and 5 to biotype 3. Among the 6 strains of B. abortus, 4 belong to biotype 1, one to biotype 2 and one to biotype 3. For these two species of brucella, the oxydative spectre established in relation to 12 substrates may be represented graphically by a metabolic profile peculiar to the bacterial species and not to its biotype nor to the nature of the human or animal reservoir.