Transfer of Bacteroides clostridiiformis subsp. clostridiiformis (Burri and Ankersmit) Holdeman and Moore and Bacteroides clostridiiformis subsp. girans (Prevot) Holdeman and Moore to the Genus Clostridium as Clostridium clostridiiforme (Burri and Ankersmit) comb. nov.: Emendation of Description and Designation of Neotype Strain

Abstract

Twenty-five strains of bacteria with characteristics that conform to those given in the original and subsequent descriptions of the organism currently known as Bacteroides clostridiiformis (Burri and Ankersmit) Holdeman and Moore have been found to produce heat-resistant spores, which are often difficult to detect. Motility, also difficult to demonstrate in these strains, was found to be a variable characteristic within strains. We propose that B. clostridiiformis subsp. clostridiiformis (Burri and Ankersmit) Holdeman and Moore and B. clostridiiformis subsp. girans (Prévot) Holdeman and Moore be transferred to Clostridium as Clostridium clostridiiforme (Burri and Ankersmit) comb. nov. Prévot's strain 171 I (= ATCC 29084 = VPI 3303), placed by Prévot in Ristella clostridiiformis, is designated as the neotype strain. Previously undescribed characteristics of this species are presented.