Evaluation of four commercial anaerobic systems for identification of Eubacterium suis.

Four commercial anaerobic systems (CASs) were evaluated for usefulness in identification of Eubacterium suis. Twelve strains were evaluated in each system in triplicate, and results were interpreted independently by 5 individuals. Statistically significant differences (P less than 0.01) due to strain variation and reader interpretation accounted for discrepancies encountered. The reactivity, repeatability, and unique profiles generated made both CAS-1 and CAS-2 suitable adjuncts for identification of E. suis when colony morphology and Gram reaction were considered. Limited reactivity in CAS-3 limited its use as an aid in identification. Variability in test observations and the large number of numerical profiles generated precluded use of CAS-4.