Pragia fontium gen. nov., sp. nov. of the Family Enterobacteriaceae, Isolated from Water

Abstract

Pragia is proposed as a new genus in the family Enterobacteriaceae. Pragia fontium is proposed for the single Pragia species, in which 18 strains are known, all of which were isolated in Czechoslovakia. P. fontium strains give positive tests for Simmons citrate, H2S production, motility, acid production from d-glucose and d-galactose, and gluconate oxidation. The majority of strains are positive in tests for methyl red and esculin. Acid production from glycerol, salicin, and d-xylose varies among strains, whereas all strains are negative in Voges-Proskauer tests and tests for indole production, urea hydrolysis, phenylalanine deaminase, lysine and ornithine decarboxylases, arginine dihydrolase, gelatin hydrolysis, growth in KCN, malonate utilization, gas production from d-glucose, lipase, deoxyribonuclease, tyrosine clearing, and acid production from carbohydrates other than those noted above. The levels of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) relatedness of seven P. fontium strains to labeled DNA from the type strain ranged from 85 to 94% (hydroxyapatite method at 60 and 75°C); the levels of DNA relatedness of P. fontium to other members of the Enterobacteriaceae were 17% or less except for biochemically atypical Budvicia aquatica DRL 23575 (37%). Seventeen P. fontium strains were isolated from wells or water pipes, and one strain was isolated from the stool of a healthy woman. The type strain of P. fontium is strain CNCTC Eb 11/82 (= CDC 963-84 = DRL 20125).