Characterization and identification of Vagococcus fluvialis strains isolated from domestic animals

Strains of Vagococcus fluvialis, a species of Gram-positive catalase-negative cocci, related to the genera Enterococcus and Carnobacterium, were isolated from various lesions of pigs, from lesions and tonsils of cattle and cats and from tonsils of a horse. Most lesion strains were isolated in mixed culture from animals with disease conditions unrelated to coccal infection. Certain differences with the species description of Vagococcus fluvialis were found: only a proportion of the strains was motile; many strains gave positive reactions to Voges-Proskauer, alkaline phosphatase and leucine arylamidase tests or produced acid from galactose and D-tagatose. SDS-PAGE of whole-cell protein patterns, however, confirmed the phenotypic identification. Guidelines for identification of Vagococcus fluvialis are given and an emended description of the species is proposed.